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 25 - 48 of 129 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 15, 2021
Submitted by: lv2qwlt
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 16, 2021
Observation date: Jul 10, 2021
Submitted by: NYLINDA9
Region: Madison County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 11, 2021
Observation date: Jul 06, 2021
Submitted by: ReynWT
Region: Albany County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 06, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2021
Submitted by: computer
Region: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 06, 2021
Observation date: May 17, 2021
Submitted by: AV-Photo1
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: May 29, 2021
Observation date: Jul 04, 2015
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Mar 22, 2021
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 14, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 22, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: St. Lawrence County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 19, 2020
Observation date: Sep 09, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 08, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: St. Lawrence County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Oct 07, 2020
Observation date: Sep 03, 2020
Submitted by: Jim Lowe
Region: Cayuga County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 04, 2020
Observation date: Jul 30, 2020
Submitted by: barthsm
Region: Chautauqua County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Aug 15, 2019
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Jul 01, 2020
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Westchester County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 15, 2020
Observation date: Aug 13, 2019
Submitted by: ellenjones6
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 13, 2020
Observation date: Jul 10, 2020
Submitted by: kristasessions
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jul 10, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 23, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 23, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 24, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 21, 2020
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Essex County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 22, 2020
Observation date: Jun 16, 2020
Submitted by: Jim Lowe
Region: Tompkins County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Jun 21, 2020
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