Mead’s Wood-Nymph
Common NameMead’s Wood-Nymph
Scientific NameCoenonympha tullia
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Primary Colorsbrown, orange, black, gray
HabitatMontane meadows, subalpine grasslands, open woodlands
Geographic RangeRocky Mountains of North America (e.g., Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Alberta, British Columbia)
Host Plantsvarious grasses, sedges
Flight PeriodJuly to August
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae feed on various grasses and sedges. The species typically overwinters as a larva, completing its metamorphosis in the spring.
Identification TipsKey features include the single large, prominent eyespot on the forewing underside, the distinct orange patch on the forewing, and the mottled, cryptic hindwing underside with a variable number of smaller eyespots. Often found in high-altitude meadows.
Description
A small to medium-sized butterfly with a cryptic brown and gray underside, featuring a prominent black eyespot ringed with yellow on the forewing and an orange patch. The hindwing underside has several smaller eyespots.
