Wood Nymph

The common wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala) does not live in the woods, although it is common, especially in July. This past week I've been watching them bounce around wildflower meadows. They don't sit still too long especially if you try to get close. Even at a distance they are easy to identify: a dark chocolate body with a pale yellow patch that surrounds two eye spots on each forewing.

It is one of my favorite butterflies, perhaps because it is easy to identify, or perhaps because it was one I learned running around fields with a butterfly net as a kid. It's perky flight and brown and yellow wing pattern with the eye spots also makes the wood nymph a stand out.