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 73 - 96 of 1175 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 03, 2017
Submitted by: Doug Bruce
Region: Matanzas, Cuba
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
Observation date: Feb 21, 2022
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Dec 04, 2015
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Mar 17, 2020
Submitted by: Silverity
Region: Texas, Wilson County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: May 10, 2020
Submitted by: Howard Nemerov
Region: Bastrop County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2021
Submitted by: Jean McLane
Region: Guadalupe County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: L.Hale
Region: Texas, Lubbock County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 04, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 01, 2022
Submitted by: mashoop58
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 02, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 23, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2022
Submitted by: D Grimes
Region: Georgia, Troup County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Aug 08, 2022
Observation date: Jul 31, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: Brendavent
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 07, 2022
Observation date: Jun 06, 2022
Submitted by: Brian Ahern
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 07, 2022
Observation date: Apr 25, 2022
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Mobile County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 20, 2022
Observation date: Apr 29, 2022
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Mobile County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 20, 2022
Observation date: Apr 25, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 20, 2022
Observation date: Mar 17, 2022
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 17, 2022
Observation date: Mar 11, 2022
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 14, 2022
Observation date: Sep 16, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 13, 2022
Observation date: Mar 06, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 08, 2022
Observation date: Jan 14, 2022
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jan 19, 2022
Observation date: Dec 05, 2021
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 13, 2021
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