Northern Crescent
Phyciodes cocyta (Cramer, 1777)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Antennal clubs of male are orange. Females are darker than males. Upperside is orange-brown with dark borders; median orange-brown areas are mostly open, with few dark markings. Underside of hindwing is orange with a tan patch surrounding the pale marginal crescent.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 7/8 inches (3.2 - 4.8 cm).
Life History: All day long, males patrol near the host plants for receptive females. Eggs are laid in bunches of about 40 on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves, and young ones live and feed communally. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from June-July, perhaps two broods in southern Canada.
Caterpillar Hosts: Asters, in the sunflower family (Asteraceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of dogbane, fleabane, and white clover.
Habitat: Moist open areas in rocky places, wooded streams, marsh edges, and shale barrens.
Range: Newfoundland and northern New England west across the Great Lake states and southern Canada to British Columbia; south in the western mountains to Utah, southeast Arizona, and southern New Mexico; south in the Appalachians to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Conservation: Some geographically restricted subspecies and unnamed populations should be monitored, managed, or preserved.
NCGR:
Management Needs: Maintain habitat integrity, host plant colonies, and nectar sources.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1754 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 04, 2026
Submitted by: lewismagpie
Region: Okanogan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 18, 2026
Observation date: Jul 04, 2026
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Jul 01, 2025
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Houghton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Jul 07, 2026
Submitted by: David Cleveland
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 08, 2026
Observation date: Jun 18, 2026
Submitted by: David Allen Jones
Region: Sawyer County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2026
Observation date: Jun 17, 2026
Submitted by: drifter423
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2026
Observation date: Jun 21, 2026
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2026
Observation date: Jun 14, 2026
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 15, 2026
Observation date: Jun 11, 2026
Submitted by: drifter423
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 15, 2026
Observation date: Jun 06, 2026
Submitted by: sbdee
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 08, 2026
Observation date: Jun 17, 2018
Submitted by: gearry
Region: Lincoln County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 21, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Dec 16, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Dec 16, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Dec 16, 2025
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Dec 16, 2025
Observation date: Jun 24, 2025
Submitted by: voriig
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 18, 2020
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Mineral County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 26, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2007
Submitted by: hank4044
Region: Lake County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 17, 2025
Observation date: Oct 11, 2025
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 12, 2025
Observation date: Sep 15, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 18, 2025
Observation date: Aug 24, 2025
Submitted by: henryr10
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 02, 2025
Observation date: Jul 05, 2025
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2025
Observation date: Aug 02, 2025
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 03, 2025
Submitted by: TJ in Derry
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 05, 2025
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