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.
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1058 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 12, 2026
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Del Norte County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2026
Observation date: Jun 17, 2026
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2026
Observation date: Jul 12, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2026
Observation date: Jul 11, 2026
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 22, 2026
Observation date: Jul 14, 2026
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 19, 2026
Observation date: Jul 05, 2026
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 16, 2026
Observation date: Jul 11, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 14, 2026
Observation date: Jul 02, 2026
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 06, 2026
Observation date: Jul 04, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 05, 2026
Observation date: Jun 20, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 04, 2026
Observation date: Jun 27, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 02, 2026
Observation date: Jun 18, 2026
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 30, 2026
Observation date: Jun 26, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 27, 2026
Observation date: Jun 07, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 13, 2026
Observation date: Jun 05, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 07, 2026
Observation date: Jun 01, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 07, 2026
Observation date: Jun 02, 2026
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jun 03, 2026
Observation date: May 29, 2026
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 30, 2026
Observation date: May 13, 2026
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2026
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
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
- 1 of 45
- next ›