Tawny Crescent
Phyciodes batesii (Reakirt, [1866])
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Antennal knobs are black and white. Upperside is dark brown; forewing with pale orange postmedian band and orange submarginal band. Underside of forewing is yellow; black patch on inner margin is larger than black patch near costa. Underside of hindwing is yellow-tan with faint markings; female with black submarginal dots.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Females lay eggs in groups under host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves; first- and second-stage caterpillars live together in webs on the host plant. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from May-July; sometimes a partial second brood in Michigan.
Caterpillar Hosts: Wavy-leaved aster (Aster undulatus) and perhaps other true asters.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Moist meadows and pastures in the northern part of its range; dry rocky ridges or hillsides in the south.
Range: Southwest Quebec west to central Alberta, south to north-central Montana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and northern Georgia. Isolated colonies in the Black Hills and Nebraska's Pine Ridge.
Conservation: For unknown reasons, this butterfly has disappeared from most of its eastern range.
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 1 - 24 of 276 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 24, 2024
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: MinPinLord
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: Jul 13, 2016
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 11, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
Observation date: Jul 03, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2015
Submitted by: Vicki Nahas
Region: Portage County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 06, 2022
Observation date: Jul 01, 2021
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 28, 2021
Observation date: Jul 11, 2019
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Sep 28, 2019
Observation date: Apr 25, 2012
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Rabun County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 11, 2016
Observation date: Aug 04, 2011
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jan 31, 2016
Observation date: Apr 30, 2012
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Georgia, Towns County, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 27, 2014
Observation date: Aug 21, 2013
Submitted by: menasian
Region: Hunterdon County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Feb 11, 2014
Observation date: Jun 19, 2013
Submitted by: tangren
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Aug 06, 2013
Observation date: Jul 20, 2008
Submitted by: dpgbfly1
Region: Sherburne County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jan 01, 2013
Observation date: Jun 30, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Richard Holland)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 10, 2012
Submitted by: Naseem Reza
Region: Door County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Aug 26, 2012
Observation date: May 14, 2002
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Love)
Region: Macon County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 11, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Herig, E. Ted)
Region: Otsego County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: Ranger Steve Mueller (Steven J. Mueller)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 21, 2005
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (HEL,Pippen)
Region: Clay County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jul 06, 1992
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Gatrelle)
Region: Macon County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Swain County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 05, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Glassberg)
Region: Macon County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: May 13, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (L. Williams)
Region: Graham County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
Observation date: Jun 03, 2000
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Love)
Region: Macon County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Notes on the Butterflies of North Carolina Database)
Verified date: May 01, 2011
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