Variable Satyr
Common NameVariable Satyr
Scientific NameNeonympha gemma
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilySatyrinae
Wingspan (mm)25
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsbrown
HabitatMoist woodlands, swamps, bogs, wet meadows, stream banks
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States, west to Texas, north to parts of the Midwest
Host Plantsvarious grasses (e.g., Poa, Paspalum, Andropogon)
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host grasses. Larvae feed on grasses and typically overwinter as larvae before pupating in the spring.
Identification TipsLook for its small size, uniform dull brown coloration, and the distinctive row of small, dark, often gem-like spots on the ventral hindwing, which may have metallic centers.
Description
A small, dull brown butterfly with a rounded wing shape, featuring a row of small, dark spots on the underside of the hindwing.
