Phyciodes phaon (Edwards, 1864)

Phaon Crescent

Florida native

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This small butterfly can be found flying at any time of year throughout Florida in various disturbed areas such as roadsides, vacant lots, canal banks and utility corridors, often in close association with the larval host plant, turkey tangle fogfruit. The range includes much of the south central United States as far north as Missouri and northwest into eastern Colorado. Found through much of the southeastern coastal plain and west in the U.S.-Mexico boarder region, south into Mexico to Guatemala and also in Cuba.
The wingspan of the Phaon crescent is from 2.5-3.8cm (1 to 1-1/2 in.). The forewing is orange with a black border and lines, and a pale cream to yellowish median band. The underside of the hindwing is cream to yellowish with brown markings, with the winter form showing more brown.

Phyciodes phaon is a member of the Nymphalidae - Brush-footed butterflies family.

Other species of the Phyciodes genus in the Wild Florida Photo database:
  Phyciodes tharos - PEARL CRESCENT

iNaturalist profile for this species

For more information on this species, visit the following link:
Bugguide.net info page for this species

Date record last modified: Aug 27, 2025