Seminole Crescent
Common NameSeminole Crescent
Scientific NamePhyciodes seminole
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)32
Primary Colorsorange, black, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, clearings, meadows, roadsides, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeSoutheastern United States (primarily Florida, extending into southern Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and parts of South Carolina)
Host PlantsAsteraceae (asters, sunflowers)
Flight PeriodYear-round in south Florida; March to November in northern parts of its range
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFemales lay eggs singly or in small clusters on host plant leaves. Larvae are spiny and feed on the leaves, pupating into a chrysalis before emerging as adults.
Identification TipsLook for the distinctive bright orange and black mosaic pattern on the upperside, with a prominent row of white submarginal spots. The underside of the hindwing typically shows a pale crescent mark, which helps differentiate it from similar crescent species.
Description
A small to medium-sized butterfly featuring a vibrant mosaic pattern of bright orange patches outlined in black, with distinct white spots along the wing margins and within the black areas.
