Gemmed Satyr (Cyllopsis gemma)

Rare in much of the mountains and coastal plain of NC, this satyr can be fairly common in the piedmont, especially along partially shaded trails in forests where grasses and wet areas occur. Gemmed Satyrs in North Carolina apparently have 3 broods from spring into fall. While Carolina Satyrs often open their wings when perched, Gemmed Satyrs (and others in this genus) do not.

Eastern Gemmed Satyr (Cyllopsis gemma gemma)
Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006

Eastern Gemmed Satyr (Cyllopsis gemma gemma)
Orange Co., NC
15 May 2008

Gemmed Satyrs never perch with their wings open. Here's one that took flight as I snapped the photo, offering a view of the plain brown uppersides.


Blackwood Division, Duke Forest Orange Co., NC 15 April 2004	Chatham Co., NC 26 Sep 2004


Hill Forest, Durham Co., NC 1 May 2005	Haywood Co., NC 15 Apr 2006

This individual briefly flashed its wings open when my camera flash fired.

Haywood Co., NC
15 Apr 2006

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... April 15, 2004 | Updated ... Apr 15, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu