Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Nymphalidae

     Cercyonis sthenele
     Great Basin Wood Nymph


upperside
underside

Size: wingspread 1.5-1.75 in.
Recognition: Medium; upperside brown with 2 eyespots along FW; underside a cryptic mottled brown, also with eyespots on FW.
Flight period: Flies from May to September.
Hostplants: Larvae feed on grasses.
Habitat: Commonly associated with pinyon-juniper woodland, in our area it is more commonly associated with oak woodland and chaparral; can also be found in grassy areas around forest edges.
Distribution: Much of Great Basin, extending to California coast (excluding central valley).
Other: Adults like to nectar on California buckeye (Aesculus californica), white sweet clover (Melilotus alba), and others.

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