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 49 - 72 of 1174 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 17, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: scream of the b...
Region: Shelby County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 13, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Kevin Groeneweg
Region: Jewell County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 22, 2023
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 01, 2023
Observation date: May 10, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Schoenberg
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 11, 2023
Observation date: Mar 15, 2023
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Galveston County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 17, 2023
Observation date: Mar 16, 2023
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 16, 2023
Observation date: Feb 26, 2023
Submitted by: Pkleinsasser
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 27, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: Rosa Ruperto
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 30, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2021
Submitted by: Brynne Bryan
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 18, 2023
Observation date: Dec 30, 2022
Submitted by: Erik Stabl
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 31, 2022
Observation date: Dec 18, 2022
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 20, 2022
Observation date: Apr 01, 2019
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Nov 17, 2022
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 22, 2022
Observation date: Nov 01, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Nov 04, 2022
Observation date: Oct 21, 2022
Submitted by: Hypersiug.
Region: Polk County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 26, 2022
Observation date: Oct 23, 2022
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Jun 19, 2015
Submitted by: pretzeleater
Region: Cayman Islands
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 22, 2022
Observation date: Oct 20, 2022
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Feb 03, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Matanzas, Cuba
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
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