Phaon Crescent
Phyciodes phaon (W.H. Edwards, 1864)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Forewing is dark orange and black with a pale cream median band. Underside of hindwing is cream to yellowish; spring and fall butterflies (form marcia) have a gray hindwing.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/2 inches (2.5 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during daytime near the host plant. Eggs are laid in small groups on underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: Many broods southern Florida; February-October in California; April-September in New Mexico.
Caterpillar Hosts: Fogfruit (Lippia lanceolata) and mat grass (Lippia nodiflora) in the verbena family.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of Lippia and composites including shepherd's needle.
Habitat: Openings in thorn forest, open areas with closely cropped plants, dunes, pastures, road edges.
Range: Guatemala north through Cuba and Mexico to southern California, east through South Texas and Florida to coastal South Carolina. Strays to eastern Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1171 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 02, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2024
Observation date: Oct 27, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2024
Observation date: Oct 21, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 23, 2024
Observation date: Oct 10, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 23, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 16, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 17, 2024
Observation date: May 02, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Texas, Uvalde County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 15, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: Bugfae
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 24, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2024
Submitted by: Justme336
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: May 23, 2024
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: May 02, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Kleberg County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2024
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2024
Observation date: Apr 07, 2024
Submitted by: rkw9000
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 15, 2024
Observation date: May 03, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Texas, Runnels County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2024
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Jefferson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2024
Observation date: May 02, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Kleberg County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2024
Observation date: Apr 24, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 24, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
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