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Species Phyciodes phaon - Phaon Crescent

Classification
Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies (excluding skippers))
Family Nymphalidae (Brushfooted Butterflies)
Subfamily Nymphalinae (Crescents, Checkerspots, Anglewings, etc.)
Genus Phyciodes (Crescents)
Species phaon (Phaon Crescent)
Size
Wingspan 23 - 32 mm
Identification
Above, pale (cream-colored) postmedian band on the forewing.

Below, hindwing is tan with fine brown lines.
Range
Southern CA east through South Texas and Florida to coastal South Carolina. Strays to eastern Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri. See confirmed county records map here
Habitat
Open, disturbed sites including roadsides, utility easements, unused farm fields.
Food
Larvae host on frogfruit and mat grass (Lippia spp.)
See Also
Pearl Crescent is similar but lacks cream band on forewing, above, and hindwing is tawny orange, below.
Print References
Butterflies of Florida(1)
Internet References