If you see a very active medium-sized butterfly, warm brown in color with darker brown lines across its wings, and eyespots near the outer wing edges, it may be a Little Wood-Satyr. This butterfly’s range includes most of the eastern two-thirds of the United Sates, and southernmost Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba provinces in Canada.
Little Wood-Satyr (Megisto cymela)
Little Wood-Satyrs are usually seen in openings or clearings in deciduous woods especially where grasses are present, and in edge habitat, where a woodland meets a more open area like a meadow or field.
Adults typically feed on aphid honeydew (excrement), sap, decaying matter, and rarely, flower nectar.
Many butterflies specialize on a few closely related plants as their caterpillar food, often because of the chemical protection their chosen food provides them throughout their lives, from caterpillar to pupa to butterfly. Monarch butterflies are probably the most famous example of this specialization. Although Monarchs drink nectar from many different flower species, their caterpillars can only survive by eating milkweed (Asclepias species) leaves, buds, and flowers. Another example is the Pipevine Swallowtail, who specializes on pipevines (Aristolochia species) such as Dutchman’s Pipevine (Aristolochia macrophylla) as their caterpillar food. This specialization is a common strategy of many butterflies and moths.
Other butterflies, including Little Wood-Satyr, take a different approach. Little Wood-Satyr caterpillar food consists of various grasses, including Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata), Kentucky Bluegrass (Poa Pratensis), Blackseed Speargrass (Piptochaetium avenaceum), St. Augustine Grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), and probably many others. Using grasses as its caterpillar food gives this butterfly a vast array of food choices, but on the down side, this diet doesn’t offer any chemical protection to the caterpillar and subsequent pupa and butterfly.
Little Wood-Satyr clinging to a blade of grass
Probably because of this, Little Wood-Satyr has evolved other strategies to discourage or elude predators. This energetic butterfly has an irregular flight that may look erratic, but is probably a deliberate attempt to evade predators. In addition, studies show that eyespots near the outer margin of the wings, such as those on display in Little Wood-Satyrs, can deflect the attention of predators away from the vulnerable body of the insect, and toward the wing edges. A butterfly can survive with some damage to its outer wing, but it needs an intact body. This strategy may be most effective in the low light of dawn and dusk when their most likely predators, birds, are active, and the butterflies are not.
Little Wood Satyr displays eyespots on the under (ventral) side of their wings.Little Wood Satyr also displays eyespots on the upper (dorsal) side of their wings.Little Wood Satyr undeterred by a significant piece of missing hindwing.
Little Wood-Satyrs are leaving me with questions.
Why is the group of butterflies to which the Little Wood-Satyr belongs called Satyrinae or Satyrs? A somewhat inoffensive description of the creatures of Greek mythology called satyrs is that they were lustful, drunken woodland gods who partied with Dionysus, also known as Bacchus, the Greek god of wine. (Descriptions of their appearance and behavior escalate from there.) I have yet to read anything that definitively explains why this group of butterflies would be named for them. The Satyrinae butterflies do frequent woodlands, and maybe their flight patterns give the appearance of drunkenness. Could that be the reason for this unlikely name?
Little Wood-Satyrs are present in my back yard this year, which includes a small wooded area with Bottlebrush Grass (Elymus hystrix). Do they use this plant as caterpillar food? I’m going to watch and see.
Little Wood Satyr with small pieces of both forewings missing, near the eyespots.
I love watching nature documentaries like those narrated by David Attenborough, but even more than that I love watching the natural wonders that surround me every day.
This post features a few of my favorite sightings from 2022.
A pair of Eastern Bluebirds eating berries from American Holly (Ilex opaca)
Eastern Bluebirds visit us more often in fall and winter than in spring or summer. In addition to holly berries, they love our heated birdbath, an important source of fresh water in the cold winter months.
Eastern Bluebird, Male Eastern Bluebird, Female
I always love it when an animal reminds me of the value of plants or other habitat that humans sometimes question. The male Northern Flicker (Yellow-shafted here in New Jersey) in the photo below did just that while enjoying Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) drupes, a berry-like fruit in the woods across from our house.
Northern flicker eating Poison Ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) drupes, a berry-like fruit in the woods across from our house
Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) is a constant source of entertainment when it blooms in mid-summer, attracting butterflies, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Hummingbird Moths, and many different bees and other insects to visit for nectar.
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail nectaring from Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora)Dark form female Eastern Tiger Swallowtail drinking nectar from Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora). She’s disguised as a Pipevine Swallowtail in an attempt to look unpalatable to potential predators such as birds.Hummingbird Clearwing Moth nectaring from Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora). Notice the ant also visiting the flowers, foraging for nectar or other insects to eat.
I understood why large long-tongued bees like Eastern Carpenter Bees visited the long, narrow, tubular flowers, but I puzzled over why so many tiny bees would buzz around the plant, since their anatomy isn’t a good fit for the flower size and shape.
Eastern Carpenter Bee drinking nectar from Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) flowersSweat Bee harvesting pollen from Bottlebrush Buckeye (Aesculus parviflora) flower
As I watched more closely, I saw tiny sweat bees (Halictid species) landing on the anthers (the flower part from which pollen is dispensed) to harvest pollen, both for themselves and to bring to their nests to feed their larvae. Bees and some flies may visit flowers for pollen, an important food source for them. Both their athleticism and creative thinking was impressive.
An acrobatic Sweat Bee harvesting pollen to bring to her nest to feed her larvae. Notice the pollen she has packed on her hind legs perfectly matches the color of the pollen she is harvesting.A Sweat Bee taking an easier approach to harvesting the pollen she needs.
From a different access point, the sweat bees managed to drink nectar from the flowers, but without their bodies touching the flowers’ reproductive parts, so they weren’t likely to be doing the plant any favors in exchange for the nourishment provided.
Sweat Bee attempting to access this flower’s nectar. The bee’s body isn’t touching the flower’s reproductive parts, so it’s unlikely pollination will occur as a result of this transaction.
The starburst arrangement of abundant stamens (male reproductive parts) in the flowers of Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) are such a successful attraction to potential pollinators that this plant doesn’t waste any energy producing nectar.
Bumble Bee harvesting pollen from the profusion of anthers on a Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) flower.Many bees are attracted to Shrubby St. Johnswort (Hypericum prolificum) for the potential of harvesting ample pollen from its flowers.
In late July I found a Striped Hairstreak in our habitat, my first time seeing this species. This butterfly was not only new for me, but it’s rare where I live in New Jersey. What was it doing in my garden? Striped Hairstreaks are typically found at forest edges where there are nectar sources, and with nearby access to its caterpillar foods – oaks, walnuts and hickories. We have nectar sources, and there are suitable caterpillar food trees nearby, so check and check.
My first ever sighting of a Striped Hairstreak, a butterfly that is rare where I live in New Jersey.
Catbirds arrived in spring and stayed through mid-fall. I saw them just about every day, usually in pairs, but sometimes in groups of four or more. Early one afternoon in August I witnessed a young Catbird being tutored on the proper way to take a bath.
Young Catbird delicately swirling the water in our birdbath, with adult supervision. The adult Catbird coach provides guidance, saying, ‘Really get your whole body into it. Flap your wings! Don’t be afraid.’The young Catbird gives it another shot. “That was refreshing!”The young Catbird, “How was that?” The adult supervisor, “Now you’ve got it!”
As Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) and Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) fruit ripened, the Catbirds were joined by migrating birds who passed through, using our habitat as a rest stop.
Catbird in fall, surrounded by ripening Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) fruit.A migrating Swainson’s Thrush happily ate Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) fruit.Although surrounded by fruit, this female Purple Finch preferred to eat a caterpillar when visiting our habitat.
My favorite event was a visit from a Sleepy Orange in late September.
Sleepy Orange (winter color form) on Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) in my New Jersey garden in late September
I love this butterfly for its pioneering ways. It’s mainly a tropical butterfly, but works to extend its range northward, positioning itself for continued survival in these days of climate change. Instead of the southward migration strategy for winter survival employed by many insect and bird species, some Sleepy Oranges fly north in late summer and fall. I imagine them getting together, looking for volunteers to fly north, saying, “See if you can survive the winter in a place where you can find nectar for yourself and a partner, and food for the kids (caterpillars). If you succeed, great! We’ve extended our range. If not, no big deal, we adults will all be dead by late spring anyway.” I’m not sure that’s what really goes on, but I like to pretend it is.
Sleepy Orange (winter color form) on Blue Wood Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) in my New Jersey garden in late September
At one time the Sleepy Orange was thought to be unable to survive the winter any farther north than North Carolina. But they are now seen fairly often in central New Jersey and eastern Pennsylvania, and may have established year-round colonies. I first encountered a Sleepy Orange in 2006 at nearby Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve, but this was my first sighting of the species in my own habitat. Very exciting! This year I had nectar to offer this thirsty butterfly, but to extend its range it needs the food its caterpillars require, Wild Senna (Senna Hebecarpa, S. marylandica) or Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata). I didn’t have the necessary caterpillar food to offer this year, but we’ll have some Wild Senna by next summer.
Sleepy Orange drinking nectar from Blue Wood Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) Sleepy Orange drinking nectar from Thin-leaved Sunflower (Helianthus decapetalus)
No matter what time of year, there is always something interesting to see right outside our doors. I have my desk facing the windows so I can be easily distracted by wildlife. Even on a winter day I may see Box Elder Bugs, Chickadees, Titmice, Carolina Wrens, White-breasted Nuthatches, Juncos, White-throated Sparrows, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Robins, Bluejays, Pileated Woodpeckers, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Cedar Waxwings, or Brown Creepers. Some visit for fruit, but many are gleaning insects from the branches, bark and leaves of trees and shrubs, and from the fallen leaves on the ground.
Red-tailed, Sharp-shinned and Coopers Hawks sometimes stop by. On rare occasions, a Bald Eagle does a fly-over.
Want to see more wildlife? Make your own backyard an inviting habitat. Just provide the food birds, butterflies, bees and other animals need in the form of plants native to your region, and do less: leave fallen leaves in your planting beds, leave spent perennials standing, don’t use pesticides, herbicides or fertilizers, reduce your lawn if you can.
You don’t need to have a large property to host and see wildlife. We live in an end unit in a townhouse development with a homeowners’ association (HOA), adjacent to commonly owned natural areas that were preserved when the development was built more than 30 years ago. (Note that we leave the leaves, standing spent perennials, and don’t use pesticides.) Even a planter or a window box can bring wildlife within view.
Why travel thousands of miles away from home to see wildlife, when you can make exciting discoveries in your own backyard?
Chickadee foraging on Blue Wood Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium), looking for seeds or insects
As I rounded a bend while walking a trail on a cool day earlier this spring, I spotted a colony of wildflowers blooming a few inches above ground level.
A colony of mystery spring wildflowers
My first thought was that it must be Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica), whose blossoms were beginning to carpet the forest floor, but I quickly realized it must be something else. These flowers were a purer white, showing no hint of the pink nectar guides and anthers that add a bit of blush to Spring Beauty’s floral display.
Spring Beauty (Claytonia virginica). Note the long, narrow leaves, the pink stripes (nectar guides) on the petals, and the pink anthers.
Clearly this was a different species. I needed to take a closer look.
Notice the upright stems with short opposite leaves, and more leaves at the base of the plant.
While these plants were similar in height to Spring Beauty, they were more erect, less sprawling. Their leaves were short, opposite each other along the stem, with additional leaves at the base of the plant.
The flowers had five distinctly lobed petals, and instead of pink striping, these had soft gray nectar guides beckoning pollinators to visit.
Notice the deeply notched white petals with soft gray striping, characteristics of Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum).
A little investigation yielded the identification as Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum), a plant native throughout much of Canada and the United States (except Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Florida). In spite of Field Chickweed’s wide range, this was my first encounter with it. This perennial chickweed is often found on cliffs, rocky slopes, ridges, ledges or beaches. Fittingly, I met this small beauty on a rocky western-facing slope near the Delaware River in the Sourland Mountains in New Jersey.
Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum) with flower visitor
The primary pollinators documented for this species are a number of bees, including small carpenter bees, cuckoo bees, mason bees, sweat bees, and mining bees. Conveniently located nearby were nest entrances for some ground nesting bees who may have been frequent diners at the Field Chickweed flowers.
Entrance to ground-nesting bee nest in the path to the right of some Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum).
In contrast to the documentation I found for this plant, the pollinators I encountered were all flower flies (also known as hover flies or Syrphid flies).
Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum) with flower fly actively drinking nectar Field Chickweed (Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum) with visiting flower flyField Chickweed (Cerastium arvense ssp. strictum) with Eastern Calligrapher (Toxomerus geminatus), a species of flower fly
Flower flies are named for their frequent visits to flowers to drink nectar and eat pollen, and for their ability to hover in the air. Flies are important pollinators, especially in spring and fall when the weather is cool, because they are able to fly at lower temperatures than many bees.
The seeds of this and other chickweeds are eaten by many birds and small mammals, including mice.
Deer Mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus). Mice will eat chickweed seeds.
Those small mammals may become food for other animals, like this Red Fox.
Red Fox, “Yum! Mice are delicious!”
Field Chickweed is a lovely little native plant quietly doing its job in the ecosystem. I’m happy to have made its acquaintance.
Eaton, Eric R.; Kauffman, Ken. Kaufman Field Guide to Insects of North America. 2007.
Skevington, Jeffrey H.; Locke, Michelle M.; Young, Andrew D.; Moran, Kevin; Crins, William J.; Marshall, Stephen A. Field guide to the Flower Flies of Northeastern North America. 2019.
They were here, of course, for the fruit. Cedar Waxwings are especially dependent on fruit in their diet, so much so that ‘Cedar’ in their common name is a nod to Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana), whose fruit-like cones are an important source of winter food for this bird. The other part of their common name, ‘Waxwing’, refers to the waxy looking red tips on their secondary wing feathers.
Cedar Waxwing. Notice the red, waxy-looking tips of the secondary wing feathers.
Like most other birds, Cedar Waxwings also eat insects, especially when they are breeding and raising young. I did see one bird take a break from the Winterberry fruit to browse the branches of a nearby Witch-hazel (Hammamelis virginiana) for some insect protein. But fruit was the main attraction for this flock.
Cedar Waxwing reaching for Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) fruit
While I watched, the birds put on an impressive acrobatic display in pursuit of the delectable fruit.
Cedar Waxwing reaching for Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) fruitCedar Waxwing showing flexibility while reaching for Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) fruit
It’s not by accident that such an abundance of fruit is available for these and other birds. The groundwork is laid in late spring, typically June where I am in central New Jersey, when these shrubs produce a wealth of small flowers that are a major attraction for pollinators, including many different species of bees, wasps and flies.
Perplexing Bumble Bee (Bombus perplexis), visiting a female Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) flower. These pollination efforts make the fruit that results from this visit possible.
While they stayed with us, the Cedar Waxwings also ate the remaining Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) drupes, as well as some crab apples. The birds moved on after three days, when the trees and shrubs were stripped of their bounty. It was a mesmerizing spectacle while it lasted.
Cedar Waxwings are typically found in woodland habitats, near water or woods edges, but they are sometimes found in open fields, too. It all depends on food availability. They are sociable birds, and often nest in proximity to other members of their species, with several nests possible in a single ‘neighborhood’. When they aren’t breeding, they travel in flocks, moving from place to place to find the fruit they need. A few days before the invasion of this flock, I saw one or two Cedar Waxwings in the trees outside. Because of their gregarious nature, it’s unusual to see a lone bird of this species. Now I can’t help wondering if these early birds were scouts, looking for the next food stop for the group.
To attract Cedar Waxwings to your own yard, be sure to provide the fruit they love. In addition to Winterberry Holly and Eastern Red Cedar, American Holly (Ilex opaca), Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida), native viburnums such as Blackhaw (Viburnum prunifolium), Pokeweed (Phytolacca americana), Mountain Ash (Sorbus americana), hawthorns, apples and grapes are all very appealing to this sleek and lovely bird. To see them in summer, offer them blueberries, serviceberries, cherries and blackberries, among other fruit.
Cedar Waxwing eating Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata) fruit
I have my desk facing the windows of our home office so that I can be easily distracted, and sometimes this strategy really pays off. For the last several days, I’ve had a hard time tearing myself away from my windows because of the steady stream of birds that are visiting to eat the ripe Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) and Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) fruit from the trees outside.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) in fruit
Both Flowering Dogwood and Blackhaw Viburnum have fruit that looks like a berry but is actually a drupe, a type of fruit that has a fleshy outside, and a single seed inside encased in a stony covering. A peach is an example of a drupe. The fleshy outside is perfect for tempting a bird or small mammal to eat it. The seed goes through the animal’s digestive tract and is later ‘dispersed’ complete with fertilizer to help give a new plant a good start.
The birds went for the Dogwood fruit first. This seems appropriate, since Flowering Dogwood blooms a few days earlier than Blackhaw Viburnum. A flock of American Robins swooped in to eat, with each Dogwood hosting three, four, five, or more birds at once, bobbing in and out of sight as the branches swayed up and down from the activity.
American Robin with Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) fruitAmerican Robin in Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) American Robin in Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Several Northern Flickers alighted in the trees, staying a while to join in the feast.
Northern Flicker in Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) Northern Flicker gobbling Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida) fruit
Other more cautious birds made a swift pass to grab a bite, then flew on to enjoy it in a less congested location. At least three Hermit Thrush stopped by,
Hermit Thrush
a few Red-bellied Woodpeckers,
Red-bellied Woodpecker in Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
and even Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers supplemented their diet with fruit in between their usually forays drilling holes in tree bark for the sap that will ooze out, and for the insects that are attracted to the sap.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida)
Outside, I hear other birds and see them ignoring this bounty of fruit, relying on different food sources. Brown Creepers and White-breast Nuthatches are active in trees nearby, probing the trunks for insects sheltering in the bark grooves. Brown Creepers start from the bottom of a tree trunk and work their way to the top,
Brown Creeper
while the Nuthatches move in the opposite direction.
White-breasted Nuthatch
Dark-eyed Juncos and White-throated Sparrows recently returned for the winter. They’re busy probing the bushes and fallen leaves for insects, seeds and fruit.
While I watched, a Red-tailed Hawk swooped in, scattering the smaller birds, but only briefly deterring them from their foraging. The Red-tail perched nearby for a few minutes, silhouetted against the sky, then left with empty claws.
Red-tailed Hawk, pausing before flying off with empty claws. They are more likely to eat small mammals than birds.
The Dogwood fruit is just about all eaten now, but the birds are still working on the Blackhaw Viburnum.
Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) fruit
Robins are consuming most of the Blackhaw fruit, but the Sapsuckers fly in to supplement their diet, too. Squirrels are also taking advantage of this feast.
American Robin in Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium)American Robin investigating Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) fruit
The flower buds that are visible at the same time these plants are offering their ripe fruit promise that the show will continue next year. I just hope that when these plants bloom next spring the bees, flies, butterflies and other flower visitors are as successful as they were this year in pollinating the flowers.
Flowering Dogwood (Cornus florida). The bright red fruit is accompanied by taupe-colored flower buds, promising that the whole cycle of flowers, pollinators, fruit, birds and other animals will happen again next year.
So much action, and I live in a townhouse development in central New Jersey! Who needs to travel hundreds of miles to see the wonders of nature, when they can be present in your own backyard? Just provide the native plants that the animals we live with depend on. We humans depend on these plants and animals, too.
American Robin eating Blackhaw Viburnum (Viburnum prunifolium) fruit
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