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 1033 verified sightings
Observation date: May 28, 2008
Submitted by: hank4044
Region: Lake County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 22, 2025
Observation date: Apr 18, 2025
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 19, 2025
Observation date: Apr 04, 2025
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2025
Observation date: Apr 02, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Tooele County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Feb 01, 2025
Observation date: Oct 06, 2024
Submitted by: COA1955
Region: Morgan County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 09, 2024
Observation date: Oct 26, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2024
Observation date: Jul 04, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 10, 2024
Observation date: Sep 22, 2024
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 20, 2024
Submitted by: srhflsmck
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Benton County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Clallam County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 02, 2024
Observation date: Aug 19, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 13, 2024
Observation date: Aug 09, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 10, 2024
Observation date: Aug 08, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2020
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 20, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 18, 2024
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