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 1164 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_4256.jpeg?itok=JPtGKhVR)
Observation date: Aug 16, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 17, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_0489-standard.jpg?itok=p70bONT_)
Observation date: May 02, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Texas, Uvalde County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_4234.jpeg?itok=Q2Ww7B6n)
Observation date: Aug 15, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_4139.jpeg?itok=GiydHInN)
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
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Observation date: Jun 26, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8721_0.jpeg?itok=Uv5QcMa9)
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20240622_100431.jpg?itok=rpczeid3)
Observation date: Jun 22, 2024
Submitted by: Bugfae
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 24, 2024
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Observation date: Jun 02, 2024
Submitted by: Justme336
Region: Orleans Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/phaon_crescent_phyciodes_phaon.jpg?itok=9vwHSLV8)
Observation date: May 23, 2024
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 23, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8135_6.jpg?itok=W8IhFIfC)
Observation date: May 02, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Kleberg County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 21, 2024
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Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/pearl_crescent_105.jpg?itok=WHIMvrk3)
Observation date: Apr 07, 2024
Submitted by: rkw9000
Region: Texas, Starr County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 15, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn1314.jpg?itok=1HfSEHJu)
Observation date: May 03, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Texas, Runnels County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2024
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Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Jefferson County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 12, 2024
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Observation date: May 02, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Kleberg County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 04, 2024
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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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Observation date: Apr 24, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_6642_1.jpg?itok=ZqbmKXy2)
Observation date: Apr 24, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_6748_3.jpg?itok=f3wFrf7R)
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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Observation date: Apr 25, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
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Observation date: Apr 25, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_7171_6.jpg?itok=7pWh5SSE)
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Aransas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 29, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1946_0.jpeg?itok=lvraKlCN)
Observation date: Apr 08, 2024
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Logan County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 21, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/_y1a8993_phaon_crescent_aransas_nwr.jpg?itok=ZEHnQBcy)
Observation date: Mar 03, 2024
Submitted by: pamelmmc
Region: Aransas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 11, 2024
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