Texan Crescent
Anthanassa texana (W.H. Edwards, 1863)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Outer margin is indented below tip of forewing. Upperside is black with small white spots and some rusty red near wing bases. Hindwing with median band of cream-colored spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 7/8 inches (3.2 - 4.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch in gulches to watch for females. Eggs are laid in groups on underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: Several broods, from March-November in south Florida and Arizona, throughout the year in South Texas and the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various low plants of the acanthus family including Ruellia, Jacobina, Beloperone, and Siphonoglossa.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Deserts, dry gulches, open areas, streamsides, road edges, city parks.
Range: Guatemala north through Mexico to southern California, east across the southern United States to northern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Strays to Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, South Dakota, and central Nevada.
Conservation: Not usually of concern.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Phyciodes texana
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 526 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 04, 2025
Submitted by: KS bird-man
Region: Saline County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Oct 19, 2025
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Berkeley County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 20, 2025
Observation date: Oct 10, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 10, 2025
Observation date: Oct 03, 2025
Submitted by: sckastnerm
Region: Clarendon County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 07, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2025
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 28, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: Rob Williams
Region: Wakulla County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 12, 2025
Observation date: Sep 09, 1994
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: May 05, 2018
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: Mar 23, 2025
Submitted by: TJM321
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 24, 2025
Observation date: Oct 11, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 05, 2024
Observation date: Oct 13, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 04, 2024
Observation date: Oct 13, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 04, 2024
Observation date: Oct 13, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 04, 2024
Observation date: Oct 13, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 04, 2024
Observation date: Oct 13, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 02, 2024
Observation date: Oct 17, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 02, 2024
Observation date: Oct 17, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 02, 2024
Observation date: Oct 17, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 01, 2024
Observation date: Mar 11, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Liberty County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Dec 30, 2021
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Goliad County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Dec 28, 2022
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Dec 28, 2022
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Dec 29, 2022
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Dec 30, 2021
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Goliad County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
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