Northern Crescent
Phyciodes cocyta (Cramer, 1777)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Antennal clubs of male are orange. Females are darker than males. Upperside is orange-brown with dark borders; median orange-brown areas are mostly open, with few dark markings. Underside of hindwing is orange with a tan patch surrounding the pale marginal crescent.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 7/8 inches (3.2 - 4.8 cm).
Life History: All day long, males patrol near the host plants for receptive females. Eggs are laid in bunches of about 40 on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves, and young ones live and feed communally. Third-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: One brood from June-July, perhaps two broods in southern Canada.
Caterpillar Hosts: Asters, in the sunflower family (Asteraceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of dogbane, fleabane, and white clover.
Habitat: Moist open areas in rocky places, wooded streams, marsh edges, and shale barrens.
Range: Newfoundland and northern New England west across the Great Lake states and southern Canada to British Columbia; south in the western mountains to Utah, southeast Arizona, and southern New Mexico; south in the Appalachians to Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia.
Conservation: Some geographically restricted subspecies and unnamed populations should be monitored, managed, or preserved.
NCGR:
Management Needs: Maintain habitat integrity, host plant colonies, and nectar sources.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 1710 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 10, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Madison County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 02, 2024
Observation date: Sep 21, 2023
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 26, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2024
Observation date: Jul 07, 2017
Submitted by: DRLem23ME
Region: Kennebec County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 18, 2023
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 07, 2023
Observation date: Sep 14, 2023
Submitted by: David.Josephy
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 30, 2023
Observation date: Aug 02, 2018
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 12, 2019
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 11, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2023
Submitted by: a.d.levine
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 06, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: RStankiewicz
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 05, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2023
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Saratoga County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 27, 2023
Observation date: Aug 14, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 06, 2023
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: rocksnstars
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 28, 2023
Observation date: Jul 23, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 24, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 20, 2023
Submitted by: Jon Kindschy
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 21, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jun 25, 2020
Submitted by: Smccarthy
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 22, 2023
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2023
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 21, 2023
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