• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Brushfooted Butterflies
  • Snouts
  • Heliconians and Fritillaries
  • True Brushfoots
  • Admirals and Relatives
  • Leafwings
  • Emperors
  • Satyrs
  • Monarchs
• Satyrs
  • Northern Pearly-eye
  • Eyed Brown
  • Smoky Eyed Brown
  • Appalachian Brown
  • Little Wood-Satyr
  • Common Ringlet
  • Common Wood-Nymph
  • Red-disked Alpine
  • Chryxus Arctic
  • Jutta Arctic

Appalachian Brown

(Satyrodes appalachia)

The Appalachian Brown mainly a wet woodland butterfly. It is not as common as the Eyed Brown but it is to be expected throughout much of the state. Both of these species may be found in nearly the same area when large marshy areas border woodlands. In this kind of area the Eyed Brown would be expected in the open marsh, while the Appalachian Browns would be found in the woodland areas.

Identifying characteristics: From both above and below, this butterfly is mainly different shades of brown. Below, the postmedian lines on both the forewing and hindwing are smooth, as is the postbasal line. From below, the outer two eyespots are usually somewhat larger than the middle two.

Similar species: More than any other pair of butterflies in Wisconsin the Eyed Brown and this species are told apart by comparison to the other. The postmedian lines on the Eyed Brown on both the forewing and the hindwing are very jagged, not smooth as in the Appalachian Brown. In addition the postbasal line of the Eyed Brown is not straight and is crooked at the 2nd vein, whereas the Appalachian Brown does have this line straight. In general, the four eye spots on the forewing of the Eyed Brown below are nearly the same size, but the middle two eye spots of the of the Appalachian Brown are usually somewhat smaller than the outer two spots.

Habitat: Found in wet woodlands.

Flight: One brood, from mid-June through mid-August.

Abundance: This species is not as abundant as the Eyed Brown. In large marshes it is common to see well over 50 of the Eyed Brown but it is uncommon to see over ten of this species in one day.

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