Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)

Widespread and common in NC, this species flies from spring into fall, bouncing along woodland trails and usually staying close to the forest floor. Along with some native grasses, it seems to be using the exotic invasive Japanese Stilt Grass (Microstegium vimineum) as a host plant, thus this species can be found abundantly in some bottomland locations in the piedmont where Japanese Stilt Grass has taken over.
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Clay Co., NC
13 May 2006

Note multiple eyespots along wing outer edge submargins.


Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) Males (left) show a dark "androconial" patch of scales on the basal half or so of the upper forewing. Females (right) lack these scales.
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius), male
Wilkes Co., NC
24 Aug 2016
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius), female
Duke Forest Blackwood Division, Orange Co., NC
28 June 2004

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Brumley Nature Preserve, Orange Co., NC
23 Aug 2023

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Alamance Co., NC
29 Apr 2023

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Durham Co., NC
24 Aug 2023
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Brumley Nature Preserve, Orange Co., NC
23 Aug 2023

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius), male
Caldwell Co., NC
23 Aug 2016
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Caldwell Co., NC
23 Aug 2016

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius), female
Hillsborough, Orange Co., NC
24 Aug 2017

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Havelock Station, Croatan NF, Craven Co, NC
12 Aug 2016
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Rougemont, Orange Co, NC
5 Apr 2017

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Brumley Nature Preserve, Orange Co., NC
18 Aug 2023
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Duke Forest Durham Division, Orange Co., NC
25 April 2004

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Duke Forest Blackwood Division, Orange Co., NC
17 May 2005
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Washington Co., NC
19 June 2004

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Madison Co., NC
18 May 2023

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
York Co., VA
20 Aug 2013

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Big Cypress, Collier Co., FL
23 Dec 2014

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Washington Co., NC
21 June 2006

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Duke Forest, Durham, NC
13 Aug 2009

Mated pair of Carolina Satyrs.


Intricate Satyr (Hermeuptychia intricata) Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) Side by side comparison of males showing even coloration/tone on the dorsal forewing surface of Intricate Satyr (recently split from Carolina Satyr) compared to the two-tone (darker on basal 2/3) of Carolina Satyr.
Intricate Satyr (Hermeuptychia intricata)
Island Creek, Jones Co., NC
12 Aug 2016
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Duke Forest Blackwood Division, Orange Co., NC
17 May 2005

Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Brazoria Co., TX
23 Mar 2018

Intricate Satyr (Hermeuptychia intricata) Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius) Side by side comparison showing tendencey of ventral hindwing post-median line being relatively straight in Intricate Satyr but showing a bulge toward the body of Carolina Satyr. This field mark refers to the upper half of the post-median line, and Warren, Willmott, & Grishin (2014 News of the Lepidopterists' Society 56(2)) warn that it's useful but not diagnostic.
Intricate Satyr (Hermeuptychia intricata)
Island Creek, Jones Co., NC
12 Aug 2016
Carolina Satyr (Hermeuptychia sosybius)
Washington Co., NC
19 June 2004


South Texas Satyr (Hermeuptychia hermybius)

Also recently split from the Carolina Satyr is this species, which flies only in S. Texas and northern Mexico. According to Cong & Grishin (2014), the Lower Rio Grande Valley population of Hermeuptychia should be treated as a separate species. They differ from Carolina Satyrs by 2.1% DNA Barcode as well as " by wing patterns, such as the size of eyespots and the shape of brown lines on hindwing."

South Texas Satyr (Hermeuptychia hermybius)
National Butterfly Center, Hidalgo Co., TX
1 May 2018
South Texas Satyr (Hermeuptychia hermybius)
Dan's place, Hidalgo Co., TX
2 May 2018


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Created on ... April 27, 2004 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com