Phaon Crescent
Phyciodes phaon (W.H. Edwards, 1864)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Forewing is dark orange and black with a pale cream median band. Underside of hindwing is cream to yellowish; spring and fall butterflies (form marcia) have a gray hindwing.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/2 inches (2.5 - 3.8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol during daytime near the host plant. Eggs are laid in small groups on underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: Many broods southern Florida; February-October in California; April-September in New Mexico.
Caterpillar Hosts: Fogfruit (Lippia lanceolata) and mat grass (Lippia nodiflora) in the verbena family.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of Lippia and composites including shepherd's needle.
Habitat: Openings in thorn forest, open areas with closely cropped plants, dunes, pastures, road edges.
Range: Guatemala north through Cuba and Mexico to southern California, east through South Texas and Florida to coastal South Carolina. Strays to eastern Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri.
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 1189 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 07, 2025
Submitted by: Blablancwillis
Region: Chase County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Oct 10, 2025
Submitted by: aturney
Region: Texas, Polk County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 10, 2025
Observation date: Mar 20, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Quintana Roo, Mexico
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 23, 2025
Observation date: Sep 17, 2025
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 21, 2025
Observation date: Aug 22, 2025
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 22, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 21, 2025
Observation date: Aug 18, 2025
Submitted by: rrivard
Region: Levy County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Aug 11, 2025
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: May 26, 2025
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 20, 2025
Observation date: May 24, 2025
Submitted by: mamalewts
Region: Collin County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 11, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2025
Submitted by: RoxanneWasHere
Region: Chambers County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 02, 2025
Observation date: Sep 26, 1995
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: Nov 16, 2023
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 18, 2025
Observation date: Apr 08, 2025
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 10, 2025
Observation date: Apr 01, 2025
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Mar 19, 2025
Observation date: Feb 16, 2025
Submitted by: kbemrald
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 25, 2025
Observation date: Jun 26, 1980
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 24, 2024
Observation date: Nov 02, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2024
Observation date: Oct 27, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 03, 2024
Observation date: Oct 21, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Broward County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 23, 2024
Observation date: Oct 10, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
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