Phyciodes batesii

Reakirt, 1865

Tawny Crescent

Phyciodes batesii, the tawny crescent, is a small North American in the Nymphalidae. fly once per year between May and July, with occasional partial second in some regions. The has been documented in decline in parts of its range, with the related Field Crescent (Phyciodes campestris) having disappeared from low-elevation sites in California's Central Valley by 2005.

Phyciodes batesii by (c) Nick Block, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Nick Block. Used under a CC-BY license.

NW60-15 Phyciodes batesii maconensis (3429948140) by NSG group from Lund, Sweden. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Phyciodes batesii: //faɪˈsaɪ.oʊdiːz ˈbeɪtsi.aɪ//

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Distinguished from similar Phyciodes by the combination of: dark brown upperside with orange (rather than brighter orange-brown of pearl crescent), pale postmedian band on forewing, and dotted black submarginal band in females. Smaller and less brightly marked than Phyciodes tharos (pearl crescent). Phyciodes cocyta (northern crescent) has more extensive orange and different banding pattern.

Images

Appearance

Wingspan 25–38 mm. Upperside dark brown with orange. Forewing has pale postmedian and submarginal bands. Female's black submarginal band contains dots. Both sexes have black and white knobs.

Distribution

North America: recorded from Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan in Canada; Vermont and presumably other northern and central United States. GBIF records indicate presence in Canada and United States.

Seasonality

fly once per year between May and July. Partial second has been observed in Michigan.

Diet

Larval : Symphyotrichum undulatum (wavy-leaved aster). food: flower nectar.

Host Associations

Symphyotrichum undulatum - larval plant laid in groups on plant

Life Cycle

Females lay in groups on plants. Fourth-instar caterpillars hibernate. Development resumes in spring.

Similar Taxa

Phyciodes cocytaNorthern crescent; similar size and coloration but with more extensive orange and different forewing banding pattern
Phyciodes tharosPearl crescent; brighter orange-brown upperside, more widespread and abundant, often has multiple per year

More Details

Conservation context

While not specifically mentioned in decline studies, the related Field Crescent (Phyciodes campestris, sometimes treated as or closely related) was among three formerly common that disappeared from low-elevation sites in California's Central Valley by 2005, according to long-term monitoring by Art Shapiro. The tawny crescent's more northern distribution may afford some protection from the climate-driven declines affecting lower-elevation, more southern of related species.