North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata)
JPG -- species photo

Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata [W. H. Edwards])

Wing span: 1 3/8 - 1 7/8 inches (3.5 - 4.8 cm).

Identification: Upperside is dark brown; each wing has 1 eyespot and a reddish patch. Underside is light brown; forewing has a reddish patch and 1 eyespot near the tip.

Life history: Males patrol in shady areas for females. Eggs are scattered on dead leaves or near grass blades. Caterpillars eat grass blades and mature caterpillars hibernate.

Flight: Two broods from April-September.

Caterpillar hosts: Bermuda grass (Cynodon dactylon) and St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum).

Adult food: Not reported.

Habitat: Open mesquite, juniper, or oak-pine woodland.

Range: Central Arizona, central New Mexico, east Texas, and south-central Kansas south through Mexico to Guatemala.

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: None reported.

References:


Bailowitz, R. A., and J. P. Brock. 1991. Butterflies of southeastern Arizona. 

     Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc., Tucson, Arizona. 342 pages.



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

Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata)
distribution map
map legend

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