Mylitta Crescent
Phyciodes mylitta (W.H. Edwards, 1861)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is bright reddish orange with narrow dark markings. Lacks the prominent black inner marginal spot of Phyciodes pallidus. Underside is yellow-orange with somewhat blurry rusty orange markings.
Wing Span: 1 1/8 - 1 1/2 inches (3 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch or patrol all day near host plants for females. Eggs are deposited on underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves. Young caterpillars may live in a small silken nest; partially-grown caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: Two broods in the north from April-September, several in the south from February-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Native thistles (Cirsium), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), and European thistles (Carduus).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: From sea level to 8000 feet in mountains, fields, meadows, roads, vacant lots, parks, and fencerows.
Range: Southern British Columbia southeast through the Rocky Mountain region to Mexico; south to Washington, Oregon, and California.
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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 1076 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 09, 2026
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 09, 2026
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 17, 2026
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 12, 2026
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2026
Observation date: Apr 07, 2026
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 12, 2026
Observation date: Mar 26, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 05, 2026
Observation date: Mar 26, 2026
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 26, 2026
Observation date: Mar 20, 2026
Submitted by: Reneerob17
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 25, 2026
Observation date: Mar 05, 2026
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 25, 2026
Observation date: Mar 07, 2026
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 12, 2026
Observation date: Feb 28, 2026
Submitted by: chneal
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 01, 2026
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 25, 2026
Observation date: Jun 12, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Jefferson County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jan 03, 2026
Observation date: Nov 10, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 13, 2025
Observation date: Nov 05, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 06, 2025
Observation date: Aug 30, 2007
Submitted by: hank4044
Region: Lake County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 04, 2025
Observation date: Oct 06, 2025
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2025
Observation date: Oct 02, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 11, 2025
Observation date: Aug 29, 2025
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Santa Cruz County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 31, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Lake County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 30, 2025
Observation date: Apr 09, 2025
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 21, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
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