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Phaon Crescent, Mat Plant Crescent, Phyciodes phaon (Edwards) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)

Donald W. Hall and Jerry F. Butler

The Featured Creatures collection provides in-depth profiles of insects, nematodes, arachnids and other organisms relevant to Florida. These profiles are intended for the use of interested laypersons with some knowledge of biology as well as academic audiences.

Introduction

The phaon crescent, Phyciodes phaon (Edwards), is a common southern crescent that frequents moist open areas. It resembles the pearl crescent that is found in the same areas but differs by the more checkered fringe on the wings.

Figure 1. Adult phaon crescent, Phyciodes phaon (Edwards).
Figure 1.  Adult phaon crescent, Phyciodes phaon (Edwards).
Credit: Robert Lord Zimlich

 

Distribution

The phaon crescent is found from coastal North Carolina throughout the southern parts of the Gulf states to southern Texas and westward to southern California. It strays north to Iowa and Nebraska.

Description

The wingspread is 2.3 to 3.2 cm. The upper surface of the wings is brown with orange checkered spots and the front wings have a median white to yellowish band (also visible on the undersides). The undersides of the wings are orange and light tan with blackish brown markings.

Larvae are variable in color from olive to brown with dark subdorsal bands and white lateral bands. Both thoracic and abdominal segments have transverse bands of scoli, each of which bears brown setae.

Figure 2. Larva of phaon crescent, Phyciodes phaon (Edwards).
Figure 2.  Larva of phaon crescent, Phyciodes phaon (Edwards).
Credit: Jerry F. Butler, University of Florida

 

Life Cycle

There are several flights (early spring to late fall) in the northern part of the range and nearly year-round in peninsular Florida. Males patrol open areas near host plants for females. Mating occurs primarily during mid-day. Eggs are laid in clusters on the undersides of leaves of the fogfruit host plants, Phyla (=Lippia) spp. (Verbenaceae). The common host throughout much of Florida is turkey tangle fogfruit, Phyla nodiflora (L.) Green, also known as capeweed, mat plant, creeping charlie, and match heads.

Figure 3. Turkey tangle fogfruit, Phyla nodiflora (L.) Green (Verbenaceae).
Figure 3.  Turkey tangle fogfruit, Phyla nodiflora (L.) Green (Verbenaceae).
Credit: Donald W. Hall, University of Florida

 

Selected References

Daniels J. 2003. Butterflies of Florida. Adventure Publications. Cambridge, Minnesota. 256 pp.

Glassberg J, Minno MC, Calhoun JV. 2000. Butterflies Through Binoculars: A Field, Finding, and Gardening Guide to Butterflies in Florida. Oxford University Press. New York. 242 pp.

Minno MC, Emmel TC. 1993. Butterflies of the Florida Keys. Scientific Publishers. Gainesville, Florida.

Minno MC, Butler JF, Hall DW. 2005. Florida Butterfly Caterpillars and their Host Plants. University Press of Florida. Gainesville, Florida. 341 pp.

Opler PA, Krizek GO. 1984. Butterflies East of the Great Plains. The Johns Hopkins University Press. Baltimore, MD.

Opler PA, Malikul V. 1998. Eastern Butterflies. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company. New York.

Scott JA. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press. Stanford, CA.

Wagner DL. 2005. Caterpillars of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press. Princeton, New Jersey. 512 pp.

Publication #EENY-109

Release Date:January 23rd, 2023

Related Experts

Hall, Donald W.

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

Butler, Jerry F

Specialist/SSA/RSA

University of Florida

Organism ID

About this Publication

This document is EENY-109, one of a series of the Entomology and Nematology Department, UF/IFAS Extension. Original publication date August 1999. Revised August 2016 and January 2023. Visit the EDIS website at https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu for the currently supported version of this publication. This document is also available on the Featured Creatures website at http://entomology.ifas.ufl.edu/creatures.

About the Authors

Donald W. Hall, professor; and Jerry F. Butler, professor, Entomology and Nematology Department; UF/IFAS Extension, Gainesville, FL 32611.

Contacts

  • Elena Rhodes