Moon Satyr
Common NameMoon Satyr
Scientific NameNeonympha helicta
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patterncryptic
Primary Colorsbrown, tan
HabitatMoist woodlands, swamps, bogs, forest edges
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States (e.g., Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, South Carolina)
Host Plantsvarious grasses (e.g., Paspalum, Andropogon)
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae are green with longitudinal stripes, and pupation occurs in a chrysalis.
Identification TipsLook for its dead-leaf mimicry on the underside, small size, and reddish-tipped antennae. It is typically found in damp, shaded woodland areas.
Description
A small to medium-sized butterfly with a cryptic brown and tan underside that mimics a dead leaf, featuring faint lines and small, often indistinct, ocelli.
