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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1005 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 02, 2020
Observation date: May 30, 2020
Submitted by: Silver Eagle
Region: Houston County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 31, 2020
Observation date: May 25, 2020
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Fort Bend County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 31, 2020
Observation date: May 17, 2020
Submitted by: eroutside
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 21, 2020
Observation date: May 20, 2020
Submitted by: Ava Reinstein
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 21, 2020
Observation date: May 09, 2020
Submitted by: ezettler
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2020
Observation date: Apr 14, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Apr 24, 2020
Observation date: Apr 20, 2020
Submitted by: Englishman
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 21, 2020
Observation date: Apr 02, 2020
Submitted by: Reach
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 13, 2020
Observation date: Apr 02, 2020
Submitted by: Reach
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 12, 2020
Observation date: Mar 13, 2020
Submitted by: cskipper
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 25, 2020
Observation date: Mar 20, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 21, 2020
Observation date: Feb 24, 2020
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 27, 2020
Observation date: Jan 16, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 17, 2020
Observation date: Jan 15, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 15, 2020
Observation date: Dec 15, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 03, 2020
Observation date: Nov 20, 2019
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 20, 2019
Observation date: Nov 11, 2016
Submitted by: MJS
Region: Chambers County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 16, 2019
Observation date: Oct 31, 2019
Submitted by: mellielong
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 01, 2019
Observation date: Oct 18, 2019
Submitted by: Jeff Trahan
Region: Caddo Parish, Louisiana, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 29, 2019
Observation date: Oct 06, 2019
Submitted by: cosmic_cat
Region: Harrison County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 24, 2019
Observation date: Oct 10, 2019
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Charlotte County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2019
Observation date: Oct 04, 2019
Submitted by: gpstewart
Region: Irion County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 13, 2019
Observation date: Oct 09, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Nelson
Region: Baxter County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 09, 2019
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