Wood Satyr

In classic Greek mythology, a Satyr was a minor deity of the woodlands. Part human, part horse, and often part goat, these anti-gentlemen spent much of their time chasing nymphs, consorting with Bacchus, the god of wine, and getting into all sorts of trouble. Why this gentle and rather drab butterfly has been dubbed a Wood Satyr is a little hard to explain, but that's the common name for a dusky brown lepidopteran adorned with small eyespots on the edges of its wings. Megisto cymela been active in the fields and along the forest edges for several weeks, and it's definitely not a trouble-maker as it goes unobtrusively about its business. The Satyr is almost ready to depart the scene for the season. Ironically, it will take its leave at just around the time the Wood Nymphs—the butterflies, that is—start becoming common. In natural history mythology, the Nymphs can fly unharassed by the Satyrs.