Mexican Crescent
Common NameMexican Crescent
Scientific NamePhyciodes texana
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)38.5
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, orange, yellow
HabitatOpen woodlands, scrublands, deserts, fields, roadsides
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (primarily Texas, Arizona, New Mexico) south through Mexico and Central America to Costa Rica
Host PlantsRuellia spp., Anisacanthus spp., Siphonoglossa spp.
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods), year-round in tropical areas
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in clusters on host plant leaves. Larvae are spiny and feed on the host plants, often communally when young. Pupae are typically green or brown and suspended by a cremaster.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its dark brown wings with numerous orange and yellow spots, particularly the crescent-like markings on the hindwing margin. The underside also features a distinctive pattern of orange, yellow, and brown.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with dark brown wings extensively marked with orange and yellow-orange spots and patches, often featuring a row of crescent-shaped spots along the hindwing margin.
