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Carolina Satyr
ExploreInsects
Carolina Satyr
hermeuptychia sosybius
The Carolina Satyr is a beautiful butterfly that loves to flutter around fields and forests. It has lovely brown wings with eye spots that help it blend in with its surroundings!
Habitat: Fields, forests, and grassy areas.
Appearance
The Carolina Satyr has brownish-gray wings with two prominent, dark-ringed eyespots on each hindwing, often with bright yellow centers. Its undersides are paler with intricate wavy lines. This drab coloration helps it perfectly blend into shaded, leafy environments, distinguishing it from brighter butterflies.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyNymphalidaeGenusHermeuptychia
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
Snaps
7
Interesting facts
Adult Carolina Satyrs often 'taste' with their feet!
Satyrs are named after mythical forest creatures!
Their caterpillars munch on many different types of grasses.
They prefer to sip tree sap or rotting fruit over flower nectar.
Special abilities
Ability
Eyespot Illusion
Carolina Satyr has large eyespots on its wings that trick predators into striking a less vital body part.
Ability
Shadow Blending
Carolina Satyr can disappear into shaded forest floors because of its muted brown and gray wing patterns.
Ability
Low-Flight Evasion
Carolina Satyr flies close to the ground, using dense vegetation as cover to quickly avoid detection by predators.
Measurements & details
- Wingspan
- 38-48 mm
- Size
- 13-19 mm
- Lifespan
- 5-10 days
- Leg Count
- 6
Diet & Feeding
Caterpillars munch on grasses, while adults primarily drink tree sap and juices from rotting fruit!
Age differences: Caterpillars are herbivorous, feeding on grasses. Adults are primarily detritivores, feeding on liquids from decaying organic matter.
Primary Foods
- grasses
- tree sap
- rotting fruit
- bird droppings
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Blue Jay
Cyanocitta cristata
A common bird predator in its habitat.
eaten by
Green Anole
Anolis carolinensis
Lizards often prey on low-flying insects.
eats
Bahiagrass
Paspalum notatum
A common larval food plant in its range.
depends on
White Oak
Quercus alba
Adults feed on sap from various tree species, including oaks.
Traits
Social
Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Grassland
Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals.
Forest
Forest habitats are terrestrial environments dominated by dense tree cover, supporting a high diversity of plant and animal life.
Diurnal
Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
Also known as
Brown SatyrCommon SatyrSosybius Butterfly
Collections
Safety
Danger
0/5 · No known danger
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Carolina Satyr?
The easiest way to identify Carolina Satyr is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
What is Carolina Satyr's wingspan?
38-48 mm
How big is Carolina Satyr?
13-19 mm
How long does Carolina Satyr live?
5-10 days
What does Carolina Satyr eat?
Caterpillars munch on grasses, while adults primarily drink tree sap and juices from rotting fruit!
Where is Carolina Satyr usually found?
Fields, forests, and grassy areas.
How does Carolina Satyr hunt?
Foraging
How many legs does Carolina Satyr have?
6
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
Jun 7, 2026
Locust Grove State Historic Sitei
Photo attribution
(c) Brandon Johnson, some rights reserved (CC BY)
License: CC BY 4.0 ↗
Image may be shown cropped inside the card frame.
Where to spot
Park47 sightings50 species
Georgia, US
Americus Historic District
You might spot Common Vetch, Tiny Bluet, and Carolina Crane's-Bill.
View guide →
Park40 sightings50 species
Louisiana, US
Locust Grove State Historic Site
You might spot Mississippi River Wakerobin and Lyreleaf Sage.
View guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Alabama, US
Bottle Creek Indian Mounds
You might spot Dwarf Palmetto and Sensitive Fern.
View guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
South Carolina, US
Erskine College-Due West Historic District
You might spot Fiery Skipper, Clouded Skipper, and Carolina Satyr.
View guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
South Carolina, US
Glenn Springs Historic District
You might spot Brown-Headed Cowbird and Eastern Box Turtle.
View guide →
Park30 sightings12 species
Florida, US
Goethe State Forest
You might spot Great Blue Skimmer, Blue Dasher, and Queen.
View guide →
