Common Wood Nymph

Description:

Geographically variable. Wings are brown. Upperside of forewing has 2 large yellow-ringed eyespots. Lowerside of hindwing has a variable number of small eyespots. Southern and coastal butterflies are larger and have a yellow or yellow-orange patch on the outer part of the forewing. Inland butterflies are smaller and have the yellow forewing patch reduced or absent.

Habitat:

Large, sunny, grassy areas including prairies, open meadows, bogs, and old fields. Southern Canada and the continental United States except for most of the Southwest and Texas, southern peninsular Florida, and northern Maine.