Texan Crescent
Anthanassa texana (W.H. Edwards, 1863)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Outer margin is indented below tip of forewing. Upperside is black with small white spots and some rusty red near wing bases. Hindwing with median band of cream-colored spots.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 7/8 inches (3.2 - 4.8 cm).
Life History: Males perch in gulches to watch for females. Eggs are laid in groups on underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars eat leaves.
Flight: Several broods, from March-November in south Florida and Arizona, throughout the year in South Texas and the tropics.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various low plants of the acanthus family including Ruellia, Jacobina, Beloperone, and Siphonoglossa.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Deserts, dry gulches, open areas, streamsides, road edges, city parks.
Range: Guatemala north through Mexico to southern California, east across the southern United States to northern Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. Strays to Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, South Dakota, and central Nevada.
Conservation: Not usually of concern.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Alternate Scientific Names:
Phyciodes texana
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 508 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 11, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Liberty County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Dec 30, 2021
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Goliad County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Dec 28, 2022
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Dec 28, 2022
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Dec 29, 2022
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Dec 30, 2021
Submitted by: polylepis
Region: Goliad County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 04, 2024
Submitted by: Fredericka Hunter
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 04, 2024
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2024
Observation date: May 16, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2024
Observation date: May 07, 2024
Submitted by: msty
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 08, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: Apr 06, 2024
Submitted by: rkw9000
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 05, 2024
Observation date: May 05, 2024
Submitted by: msty
Region: Citrus County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 05, 2024
Observation date: Jan 16, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 10, 2024
Observation date: Feb 16, 2024
Submitted by: rsaltys
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 10, 2024
Observation date: Feb 27, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 01, 2024
Observation date: Dec 07, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Santa Cruz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 08, 2023
Observation date: Oct 16, 2023
Submitted by: blueracer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 16, 2023
Observation date: Feb 24, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 25, 2023
Observation date: Mar 23, 2017
Submitted by: katiefouse
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: lilkriskattn
Region: Texas, Montague County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 15, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: inthelikeness
Region: Comanche County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Apr 14, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 29, 2023
Observation date: Apr 14, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 29, 2023
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