Mylitta Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta (W.H. Edwards, 1861)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is bright reddish orange with narrow dark markings. Lacks the prominent black inner marginal spot of Phyciodes pallidus. Underside is yellow-orange with somewhat blurry rusty orange markings.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch or patrol all day near host plants for females. Eggs are deposited on underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves. Young caterpillars may live in a small silken nest; partially-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: Two broods in the north from April-September, several in the south from February-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Native thistles (Cirsium), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), and European thistles (Carduus).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: From sea level to 8000 feet in mountains, fields, meadows, roads, vacant lots, parks, and fencerows.
Range: Southern British Columbia southeast through the Rocky Mountain region to Mexico; south to Washington, Oregon, and California.
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 984 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 21, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 23, 2024
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 20, 2024
Observation date: Mar 17, 2024
Submitted by: natureali
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 22, 2024
Observation date: Mar 14, 2024
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 15, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 01, 2024
Observation date: May 14, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 19, 2023
Submitted by: Paul C. Agidius
Region: Latah County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2023
Submitted by: MJKrotzer
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 08, 2023
Observation date: Oct 15, 2023
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 04, 2023
Observation date: Oct 17, 2023
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 24, 2023
Observation date: Oct 02, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Cibola County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 16, 2023
Observation date: Oct 14, 2023
Submitted by: chneal
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 16, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Alpine County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 15, 2023
Observation date: Oct 01, 2023
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2023
Observation date: Oct 04, 2023
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 05, 2023
Observation date: Sep 08, 2023
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 23, 2023
Observation date: Sep 16, 2023
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: Sep 17, 2023
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 04, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 11, 2023
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: kjaldridge
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Sep 07, 2023
Submitted by: Don Atkinson-Adams
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 08, 2023
Observation date: Sep 07, 2023
Submitted by: Don Atkinson-Adams
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 08, 2023
Observation date: Aug 31, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 01, 2023
Observation date: Aug 29, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 30, 2023
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