common name: phaon crescent, mat plant crescent
scientific name: Phyciodes phaon (Edwards) (Insecta: Lepidoptera: Nymphalidae)
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.
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.
The wingspread is 14 to 16 mm. The upper surface of the wings is brown with orange checker
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.
adult
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.
larva
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.
turkey tangle fogfruit
- Daniels JC. 2000. Butterflies 1: Butterflies of the Southeast. UF/IFAS. Card Set. SP 273.
- Gerberg EJ, Arnett RH. 1989. Florida Butterflies. National Science Publications, Inc. Baltimore, MD.
- Minno MC, Emmel TC. 1993. Butterflies of the Florida Keys. Scientific Publishers. Gainesville, Florida.
- 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.
Authors: Donald W. Hall and
Jerry F. Butler, University of Florida
Photographs: Jerry F. Butler and Donald W. Hall, University of Florida
Project Coordinator: Thomas R. Fasulo, University of Florida
Publication Number: EENY-109
Publication Date: August 1999. Latest revision: June 2007.
Copyright 1999-2007 University of Florida
Featured Creatures
Department of Entomology and Nematology
Division of Plant Industry
Electronic Data Information Source