Common Wood-Nymph

Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala)

	Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) Fermilab, Kane/DuPage Counties, Illinois July 10, 2008 These are common butterflies in our fields and prairies in July and August.
	Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala) Fermilab, Kane/DuPage Counties, Illinois June 30, 2000 This Wood-Nymph was not captured. It seemed to be attracted to the perspiration on my legs and arms, so I held out my hand . . . and shot the photo with the other.
	Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), male Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois July 3, 2002 Compare with female, below.
	Common Wood-Nymph (Cercyonis pegala), female Fermilab, Kane County, Illinois August 28, 2002 According to Bouseman and Sternburg in "Butterflies of Illinois," the female Common Wood-Nymph is typically lighter in color than the male and emerges later in the season than the male. My observations certainly confirm that the Common Wood-Nymphs later in the season are dramatically lighter in color, as these photos illustrate. Fading with age may also contribute to lighter colors. Note also the greatly reduced hind wing spots.