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 97 - 120 of 1744 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 14, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 06, 2023
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 28, 2023
Observation date: Jul 23, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 24, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2023
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 21, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: Smccarthy
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 22, 2023
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2023
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 19, 2023
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 07, 2023
Submitted by: Thom Garrett
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 17, 2023
Observation date: Jun 20, 2023
Submitted by: Thom Garrett
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 17, 2023
Observation date: Jun 26, 2023
Submitted by: Thom Garrett
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 17, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 14, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 14, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 06, 2023
Submitted by: scream of the b...
Region: Shelby County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 06, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: Col
Region: Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 10, 2023
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jun 29, 2023
Observation date: May 16, 2023
Submitted by: Rangeroge
Region: Lenawee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
Observation date: May 30, 2023
Submitted by: Roose
Region: Saginaw County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 28, 2023
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