Northern Crescent
Phyciodes cocyta (Cramer, 1777)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Antennal clubs of male are orange. Females are darker than males. Upperside is orange-brown with dark borders; median orange-brown areas are mostly open, with few dark markings. Underside of hindwing is orange with a tan patch surrounding the pale marginal crescent.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 7/8 inches (3.2 - 4.8 cm).
Life History: All day long, males patrol near the host plants for receptive females. Eggs are laid in bunches of about 40 on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves, and young ones live and feed communally. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from June-July, perhaps two broods in southern Canada.
Caterpillar Hosts: Asters, in the sunflower family (Asteraceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of dogbane, fleabane, and white clover.
Habitat: Moist open areas in rocky places, wooded streams, marsh edges, and shale barrens.
Range: Newfoundland and northern New England west across the Great Lake states and southern Canada to British Columbia; south in the western mountains to Utah, southeast Arizona, and southern New Mexico; south in the Appalachians to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Conservation: Some geographically restricted subspecies and unnamed populations should be monitored, managed, or preserved.
NCGR:
Management Needs: Maintain habitat integrity, host plant colonies, and nectar sources.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 129 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 25, 2025
Submitted by: barthsm
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 28, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 31, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 15, 2024
Observation date: Jun 13, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 15, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Madison County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: a.d.levine
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2023
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Lewis County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Jun 26, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 26, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Jun 24, 2022
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 25, 2022
Observation date: Sep 15, 2018
Submitted by: Zheng Yan
Region: New York County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 01, 2022
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 01, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Jun 24, 2006
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 29, 2021
Observation date: Oct 07, 2021
Submitted by: Barbara Perez
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 10, 2021
Observation date: Jul 28, 2021
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Lewis County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: getherington
Region: Putnam County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: lvanbrunt2
Region: Columbia County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 25, 2021
Observation date: Jun 10, 2021
Submitted by: lvanbrunt2
Region: Columbia County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 25, 2021
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