Canyonland Satyr (Cyllopsis pertepida)	Red Satyr (Megisto rubricata)	Mead’s Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis meadii)

Two species of satyrs–the Red and the Canyonland satyrs–can often be seen in Modesta Canyon during the summer months. Both are small butterflies that tend to perch on rocks in the path. When disturbed, they’ll fly away, bobbing along,  low to the ground, until they land and virtually disappear on a rock or dead branch on the ground. The red satyr is the most common satyr in the canyon. The canyonland satyr can be easily distinguished by the silver patch on its underwing.

A third species, the Mead’s Wood-nymph (Cercyonis meadii), was reported by a butterfly enthusiast,  but has not been seen again. The image above was taken along the Madera Canyon Hiking Trail near The Nature Conservancy’s Davis Mountains Preserve.