Satyriinae (Satyrs and Wood-Nymphs)

One brood in July, rarely extending into August. It has been photographed in Minnesota as early as mid-June (6/19/2006).

Sedge meadows, freshwater marshes

Sedges

Mostly sap and bird droppings, but occasionally flower nectar

The eyespots on the forewing of the eyed brown are of nearly equal intensity, though they are of increasing size from top to bottom. A light outer ring around each eyespot helps to distinguish the eyed brown and Appalachian Brown (S. appalachia) from the Northern Pearly-eye (Enodia anthedon) and Little Wood-Satyr (Megisto cymela). Seen from above the forewing has four eyespots: seen from below it has five. The hindwing has a basal line that veers sharply inward at the second vein from the top.

In southern Minnesota (Freeborn, Faribault, and Watonwan counties) there is a dark variant called Smokey eyed brown (S. eurydice fumosa). They are noticeably darker. Seen from above the forewing has five eyespots instead of four: seen from below it has six instead of five. The Nature Conservancy gives this variant a Global Rank of 3, “vulnerable to extirpation or extinction, 21 - 100 known occurrences.”

The Appalachian Brown, a similar species, has forewing eyespots of unequal intensity. The hindwing has a straight basal line.

The eyed brown flies over and within low plant growth and perches frequently, making it a relatively easy subject to photograph and identify.