Neonympha mitchellii mitchellii
Mitchell's satyr
Photo by Larry West
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Key Characteristics

Mitchell's satyr is a dark, chocolate brown, medium-sized butterfly with a wing span that ranges from 1.5 to 1.75 inches (3.8-4.4 cm). The ventral surface, or underside, of the forewing and hindwing contains a row of four to five black, yellow-ringed ocelli, or eyespots, with the central three eyespots on the hindwing being the largest. Two orange bands encircle the eyespots. Mature larvae are pale green with pale, longitudinal stripes and a bifurcate tail.

Status and Rank

  • State Status: E - Endangered (legally protected)
  • US Status: LE - Listed Endangered
  • State Rank: S1 - Critically imperiled
  • Global Rank: G1G2T1T2

Occurrences

County NameNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed
Barry22008
Berrien32009
Branch12009
Cass52009
Jackson22009
Kalamazoo42009
Lenawee11980
St. Joseph22008
Van Buren32009
Washtenaw22009
Occurrence Map for [Sname]

Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

Although this species' habitat requirements are not yet fully understood, this butterfly appears to be restricted to calcareous wetlands that range along a continuum from open fen, wet prairie, prairie fen, and sedge meadow to shrub-carr and tamarack savanna.

Specific Habitat Needs

Host plant needed in Prairie fen, Wet prairie, Southern shrub-carr, Southern wet meadow, Wet-mesic sand prairie, Rich tamarack swamp

Natural Community Types

Management

The primary threat to the continued survival of this species is habitat loss and modification. Many of the wetland complexes occupied currently have been altered or drained for agriculture or development. Wetland alteration is responsible for extirpating the single known satyr population in Ohio. Wetland alteration also can lead to invasion by exotic plant species such as glossy buckthorn (Rhamnus frangula), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica), and the common reed (Phragmites australis). In addition, landscape-scale processes that may be important for maintaining suitable satyr habitat and/or creating new habitat, such as wildfires, fluctuations in hydrologic regimes, and flooding from beaver (Castor canadensis) activity, have been virtually eliminated or altered throughout the species' range.

Active Period

Flight from third week of June to third week of July

Survey Methods

The best way to survey for this species is to conduct visual surveys while meandering through suitable habitat, particularly along the interface of open wetland habitat and shrubby/forested vegetation. This species' behavior and activity appear to be strongly influenced by ambient temperatures and solar radiation. Mitchell's satyr are most active and easiest to observe on warm (80-90F), overcast days, and their activity is significantly reduced during hot (>90F), sunny days. At some sites, Mitchell's satyrs also have exhibited a diurnal activity pattern in which individuals are active during the cooler parts of the day (i.e., early morning and late afternoon) and appear to rest during the warmest part of the day (i.e., midday).

More Information

See MNFI Species Abstract

References

Survey References

Technical References

Page Citation

Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 2007. Rare Species Explorer (Web Application). Available online at http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/explorer [Accessed Feb 9, 2010]