Field Crescent
Phyciodes pulchella (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is orange and black. Underside of forewing is yellow-brown with a yellow bar at the cell and small black patches on the inner margin. Underside of hindwing is yellow-brown with rusty markings.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 3/4 inches (2.5 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol just above vegetation during the day. Females lay eggs in large batches on underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves; young ones sometimes live in a loose web. Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One flight from June-August in the mountains and far north, two flights from May-September on plains, three or four flights from April-October in lowland California.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various asters (Aster and Machaeranthera species).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Flats and open areas, fields, meadows, and streamsides from plains to mountains.
Range: Central Alaska and northern Canada south to southern California, southern Arizona, and southern New Mexico; east to the western edge of the Great Plains.
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. Note:Formerly referred to as Phyciodes campestris. Recently referred to as Phyciodes pulchellus, possibly erroneously.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1038 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 31, 2025
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 28, 2025
Observation date: Aug 01, 2025
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 03, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 31, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 20, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 25, 2025
Submitted by: chneal
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 16, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Amador County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 23, 2025
Observation date: Aug 18, 2016
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 23, 2025
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Crook County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2025
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 09, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 12, 2025
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 07, 2025
Observation date: May 30, 2025
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 03, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2025
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 02, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2025
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 02, 2025
Observation date: May 31, 2025
Submitted by: chneal
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 31, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 1984
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 1987
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 27, 2025
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