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 1 - 24 of 1142 verified sightings
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1946_0.jpeg?itok=lvraKlCN)
Observation date: Apr 08, 2024
Submitted by: Dobber31
Region: Logan County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 21, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/_y1a8993_phaon_crescent_aransas_nwr.jpg?itok=ZEHnQBcy)
Observation date: Mar 03, 2024
Submitted by: pamelmmc
Region: Aransas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 11, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_7041.jpeg?itok=Kyttxqt_)
Observation date: Mar 23, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 08, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_0417_3.jpg?itok=9n1siwpm)
Observation date: Mar 11, 2024
Submitted by: Joceb2005
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 11, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1708_8.jpg?itok=HKY7XvzC)
Observation date: Mar 10, 2024
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 10, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1709_8.jpg?itok=MCoMemcP)
Observation date: Mar 10, 2024
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 10, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc01057.jpg?itok=t7JQ7RHs)
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 19, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_7376_001.jpg?itok=pq8hsSv0)
Observation date: Feb 03, 2024
Submitted by: marilynne
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 05, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dscn5003.jpg?itok=apjHxzib)
Observation date: Jan 04, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 05, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc01669_1.jpg?itok=3LZQVoBs)
Observation date: Dec 11, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 23, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1060568.jpg?itok=8lp1Gs1m)
Observation date: Dec 05, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 05, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/25a179d8-6f09-4d84-ab84-b626a883f154.jpeg?itok=z4wqo61C)
Observation date: Oct 14, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Hillsborough County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 08, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/dsc_2706-2.jpg?itok=wKA3cPif)
Observation date: Sep 13, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 13, 2023
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Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4419_7.jpg?itok=QUDy5Ur7)
Observation date: Feb 24, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 24, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1280812.jpg?itok=1BtLwFve)
Observation date: Apr 15, 2023
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Manatee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/0c3204fd-01e6-4a88-89b7-06691abe195e.jpeg?itok=n2QUyMgw)
Observation date: Aug 17, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/08b2e194-e70e-458e-a72f-3566d06aaf48.jpeg?itok=BvYrgl2a)
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
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_6245_phaon_crescent.jpg?itok=eHKw_uKW)
Observation date: Jun 24, 2023
Submitted by: Kevin Groeneweg
Region: Jewell County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/phaon_.jpg?itok=FrifNK39)
Observation date: Jun 19, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 22, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4397.jpeg?itok=D3jE2_dY)
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_4845.jpeg?itok=swDHGP8D)
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 02, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3374.jpeg?itok=QW5O-Tqu)
Observation date: May 25, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 01, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20230510_175931.jpg?itok=ZYKoPIoj)
Observation date: May 10, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Schoenberg
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: May 11, 2023
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