Viola’s Wood-Satyr 
Megisto viola

Viola’s Wood-Satyr has been the subject of much discussion among lepidopterists. It was split off from Little Wood-Satyr in the 1980’s as “Viola’s Wood-Satyr (Megisto viola)” (Opler & Krizek, 1984) and was included on the NABA 1st ed. Checklist in 1995, but it was lumped again in 2002 and is now considered by NABA to be a race of Little Wood-Satyr (NABA 2nd ed. Checklist, 2002) (Cech and Tudor, 2005). It is locally common in the Coastal and near-Coastal Counties in rich deciduous woods with extensive patches of knee-high grass. There is one brood from mid- March to late April. A sighting by Larry Gridley with photos on May 10, 2018 in Dougherty County, well west of the known range, appears to show a Viola’s Wood-Satyr. It is likely that its range includes Southwest Georgia since it occurs broadly across the Florida Panhandle. More study is needed to determine the extent of its range westward from the Georgia Coast. The hostplants are Orchard- grass (Dactylis glomerata), Longleaf Woodoats (Chasmanthium sessiliflorum), St. Augustine grass (Stenotaphrum secundatum), and Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides). Early Date: March 23; Late Date: April 28. Conservation Status: Secure on protected land along the lower Altamaha River, at Savannah NWR, Harris Neck NWR, at Wormsloe and on protected barrier islands. Threatened by development elsewhere on the Coast.