Ardys Crescent
Common NameArdys Crescent
Scientific NamePhyciodes ardys
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, yellow, cream, orange
HabitatOpen woodlands, clearings, meadows, roadsides
Geographic RangeSouthwestern United States, Mexico
Host PlantsAsters (Symphyotrichum spp.), other composites
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in clusters on host plants. Larvae are spiny and feed on leaves before pupating into a chrysalis.
Identification TipsLook for dark brown wings with prominent yellow-cream spots arranged in bands, particularly the crescent-shaped spots on the hindwing margin, and the overall scalloped wing shape.
Description
A small butterfly with dark brown wings adorned with rows of yellow-cream spots and a small orange spot on the hindwing, featuring distinctly scalloped margins.
