Eyed brown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eyed brown |
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| Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada | |
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| Mer Bleue Conservation Area, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | |
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Satyrodes
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S. eurydice
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| Satyrodes eurydice (Linnaeus, 1763)
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The eyed brown or marsh eyed brown (scientific name: Satyrodes eurydice) is a type of butterfly found in North America. It belongs to a group of butterflies called Satyrinae, which are often known as "browns" because of their duller colors.
This butterfly gets its name from the small, eye-like spots on its wings. It's a common sight in marshy areas and wet meadows across its home range.
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About the Eyed Brown Butterfly
The eyed brown butterfly is a medium-sized insect. Its wingspan, which is the distance from one wingtip to the other, usually measures between 38 and 48 millimeters (about 1.5 to 1.9 inches).
What it Looks Like
The top side of the eyed brown's wings is typically a light brown color. It has several small, dark spots, often with a lighter ring around them, which look like tiny eyes. The underside of the wings also has these "eyespots," which can help the butterfly blend in with its surroundings.
Different Kinds of Eyed Browns
There are two main types, or subspecies, of the eyed brown butterfly. A subspecies is a group of animals within a species that has small differences, often because they live in different areas.
- The first type is the regular eyed brown (Satyrodes eurydice eurydice).
- The second type is called the smokey eyed brown (Satyrodes eurydice fumosa). It was first described by a scientist named Leussler in 1916.
Life Cycle and Habits
Eyed brown butterflies usually have one generation, or brood, each year. This means they complete their full life cycle from egg to adult butterfly once per year. You can typically see them flying around from late June through August.
What Eyed Brown Caterpillars Eat
The young forms of the butterfly, called larvae or caterpillars, have a special diet. They mostly eat different kinds of sedge plants. Sedges are grass-like plants that often grow in wet places. Some of their favorite sedges include C. lacustris, C. atherodes, C. rostrata, and C. stricta.
Similar Butterflies
Sometimes, the eyed brown butterfly can be confused with other butterflies that look a bit like it. Here are a couple of similar species:
- Satyrodes appalachia – This butterfly is known as the Appalachian brown.
- Enodia anthedon – This one is called the northern pearly-eye.
