California Crescent
Phyciodes orseis W.H. Edwards, 1871
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Upperside is dark brown with orange-brown markings in distinct bands. Underside is yellow-orange with scattered reddish brown markings.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 5/8 inches (3.2 - 4.2 cm).
Life History: Males perch along creeks and in valleys to find females. Eggs are laid in large batches under host plant leaves, which the caterpillars eat. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Thistles (Cirsium species) in the sunflower family.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Mountain valleys, meadows, stream canyons.
Range: Southern Oregon south along the Pacific coast to San Francisco; northern and central Sierra Nevada; western Nevada.
Conservation: Possibly extirpated in California coast ranges; species should be monitored wherever it occurs.
NCGR: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).
Management Needs: Maintain habitat integrity, host plant colonies, and nectar sources.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 94 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 17, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. T. McBurney)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jul 17, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. T. McBurney)
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jul 19, 1988
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John F. Emmel)
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 15, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jul 26, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: May 29, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 29, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
Observation date: Jul 04, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jack Vaughn)
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
Observation date: May 09, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sterling Mattoon)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: May 02, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sterling Mattoon)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: May 04, 1981
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sterling Mattoon)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Jun 29, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Charles Sekerman)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: May 28, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Charles Sekerman)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Mar 09, 2010
Observation date: Jun 28, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (S. Peoples)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: Jul 02, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: Jul 30, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Placer County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: May 26, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ken Hansen)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jul 21, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeffrey Glassberg)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. E. Cottle)
Region: Marin County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: May 16, 1917
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Jun 02, 1917
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. A. Comstock)
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (J. A. Comstock)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Jun 10, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce & Bret Boyd)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (George T. Austin)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: Jul 07, 1984
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard P. Meyer)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: Jul 05, 1989
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
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