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Georgia Satyr (Neonympha areolata [J. E. Smith])
Wing span: 1 7/16 - 1 15/16 inches (3.7 - 4.9 cm).
Identification: Upperside is brown with no markings. Underside of hindwing has a row of elongated submarginal eyespots which are encircled by a red line.
Life history: Adults have a slow, bobbing flight and rest often. Males patrol low over vegetation to find females. Eggs are laid singly on host plants; caterpillars eat leaves. Fourth-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from June-July in New Jersey; two broods from April-September in most of the range; many broods through most of the year in Florida.
Caterpillar hosts: Probably sedges (Cyperaceae).
Adult food: Not reported.
Habitat: Grassy openings in sandy pinewoods or pine barrens.
Range: Southeastern United States from southern Virginia south along the Atlantic Coast to the Florida Keys, west to southeastern Oklahoma and southeastern Texas.
Conservation: Not usually required.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management needs: Depends on fire succession habitats.
Note: It has been determined that this species actually consists of two separate species, Neonympha areolata and N. helicta. Future revisions of this page will take this into account.
References:
Gatrelle, R. R. 1999. Huebner’s helicta: the forgotten Neonympha. The Taxonomic
Report 8: 1-8.
Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the Great Plains. Johns
Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.
Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson
field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.
Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press,
Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.
Author: Jane M. Struttmann
State and Regional References:
Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised
edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.
Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies.
Privately published, Denver, Colo.
Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies.
Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.
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