North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Utah

Canyonland Satyr (Cyllopsis pertepida)
JPG -- species photo

Canyonland Satyr (Cyllopsis pertepida [Dyar])

Wing span: 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 inches (3.8 - 4.5 cm).

Identification: Upperside is reddish brown; females are redder than males. Upperside of male forewing has dark scales at the cell. Underside of hindwing has a dark postmedian line which curves toward the margin above the black spots, and then usually disappears.

Life history: Males patrol dry, shaded gulches to find females. Eggs are laid singly on or near the host plant; caterpillars eat leaves. Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate.

Flight: One flight from June-August in the north, several flights from May-October in the south.

Caterpillar hosts: Grasses.

Adult food: Adults almost never feed; they have been observed only rarely nectaring at flowers.

Habitat: Open pinyon-juniper and oak woodland, streamsides.

Range: Southern Mexico north to southwest Texas, southern New Mexico, southern Arizona, and southern Colorado.

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:

Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 
     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.

Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co., 
     Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:

Ferris, C.D. and F.M. Brown. 1980. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. 
     University of Oklahoma Press. Norman.

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.
Canyonland Satyr (Cyllopsis pertepida)
distribution map
map legend

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