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Phyciodes pulchella

(Field Crescent)

Overview

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Interesting Facts

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Common Names

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Common Names in English:

Field Crescent

Description

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Family Nymphalidae

'The Nymphalidae are members of the Superfamily Papilionoidea, the true butterflies. Distributed worldwide, butterflies of this family are especially rich in the tropics. They are highly variable, and there are more species in this family than in any other. Adults vary in size from small to large, and their front legs are reduced, unable to be used for walking. Wing shape is also highly variable: some species have irregular margins (anglewings and commas), and others have long taillike projections (daggerwings). Browns, oranges, yellows, and blacks are frequent colors, while iridescent colors such as purples and blues are rare. Adults of some groups are the longest-lived butterflies, surviving 6-11 months. Adult feeding behavior depends on the species, where some groups primarily seek flower nectar while others only feed on sap flows , rotting fruit, dung, or animal carcasses. Males exhibit perching and patrolling behaviors when seeking mates. Egg-laying varies widely, as some species lay eggs in clustsers, others in columns, and others singly. Caterpillar appearance and behavior vary widely. Brushfoots overwinter as larvae or adults.

'[1]

Subfamily Nymphalinae

Brushfoots are the most prevalent members of the Family Nymphalinae. Distributed worldwide, this is a diverse group that contains several tribes , each with somewhat different structural and biological features. Adults of North American species are predominantly orange, brown, and black. Wing shape and mating systems are variable. Most checkerspots and crescentspots patrol for mates, while the remainder of groups exhibit either perching or perching and patrolling . Migration varies widely; some strong migrants are found in the lady butterflies, tortoiseshells, and anglewings, while other species are local in occurrence. Most species limit their host plants to a few species, but the Painted Lady has one of the widest host palettes of all butterflies. Eggs are laid singly or clustered in groups, and caterpillars be found feeding alone or communally. Brushfoots overwinter as young caterpillars or hibernating adults.[2]

Physical Description

Species Phyciodes pulchella

Upperside is orange and black. Underside of forewing is yellow-brown with a yellow bar at the cell and small black patches on the inner margin . Underside of hindwing is yellow-brown with rusty markings. (ref. 105930)

Color:

Upperside is orange and black. Underside of forewing is yellow-brown with a yellow bar at the cell and small black patches on the inner margin . Underside of hindwing is yellow-brown with rusty markings.

Size/Age/Growth

Wing span : 1 - 1 3/4 inches (2.5 - 4.5 cm).

Habitat

Flats and open areas, fields , meadows, and streamsides from plains to mountains.

Biology

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Diet

Caterpillar hosts: Various asters (Aster and Machaeranthera species). Adult food: Flower nectar.

Reproduction

Males patrol just above vegetation during the day. Females lay eggs in large batches on underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars feed on leaves; young ones sometimes live in a loose web. Partially-grown caterpillars hibernate.

Behavior

Flight: One flight from June-August in the mountains and far north, two flights from May-September on plains , three or four flights from April-October in lowland California.

Taxonomy

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Notes

Name Status: Accepted Name .

Similar Species

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Members of the genus Phyciodes

ZipcodeZoo has pages for 37 species and subspecies in this genus:

P. argentea (Chestnut Crescent) · P. batesii (Tawny Crescent) · P. batesii anasazi (Canyon Crescent) · P. batesii batesii (Tawny Crescent) · P. batesii lakota (Lakota Crescent) · P. batesii maconensis (Appalachian Crescent) · P. cocyta (Northern Crescent) · P. cocyta arenacolor (Steptoe Valley Checkerspot) · P. frisia (Cuban Crescent) · P. graphica (Graphic Crescent) · P. graphica vesta (Vesta Crescent) · P. incognitus (Mimic Crescent) · P. mylitta (Mylitta Crescent) · P. mylitta mexicana (Mylitta Crescent) · P. orseis (California Crescent) · P. orseis herlani (Orseis Crescent) · P. orseis orseis (Orseis Crescent) · P. pallescens (Mexican Crescent) · P. pallida (Pale Crescent) · P. pallida barnesi (Barnes' Crescent) · P. pallidus (Pallid Crescentspot) · P. phaon (Phaon Crescent) · P. picta (Painted Crescent) · P. picta canace (Painted Crescent) · P. pratensis (Field Crescent) · P. pulchella (Field Crescent) · P. pulchella camillus (Camillus Crescent) · P. pulchella pulchella (Field Crescent) · P. pulchella shoshoni (Field Crescent) · P. pulchella totchone (Field Crescent) · P. texana (Texan Crescent) · P. tharos (Arctic White) · P. tharos arctica (Pearl Crescent) · P. tharos riocolorado (Northern Pearl Crescent) · P. tharos tharos (Pearl Crescent) · P. tulcis (Pale-Banded Crescent) · P. vesta (Vesta Crescent)

More Info

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Further Reading

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Notes

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Contributors

Identifiers

Footnotes

  1. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/taxonomy?f=18&sci=Nymphalidae&com=Brush-footed Butterflies [back]
  2. http://bugguide.net/index.php?q=search&keys=Editha&search=Search [back]
Last Revised: 7/16/2012