Texan Crescent
Common NameTexan Crescent
Scientific NameAnthanassa texana
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)38
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, orange, white
HabitatOpen woodlands, fields, roadsides, disturbed areas, chaparral, desert washes
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (primarily Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, extending to Florida and other Gulf states), Mexico, Central America
Host PlantsRuellia, Siphonoglossa, Anisacanthus
Flight PeriodYear-round in warmer parts of its range (e.g., south Texas, Florida); March to November elsewhere
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesFemales lay eggs in clusters on the underside of host plant leaves. Larvae are spiny, dark with lighter stripes, and feed gregariously before pupating.
Identification TipsKey features include the dark brown wings with a reddish-orange forewing band, distinct white spots, and the scalloped hindwing margin. Its range in the southern US and Mexico also helps differentiate it from similar crescent species.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with dark brown wings featuring a prominent reddish-orange band on the forewings and numerous white spots on both forewings and hindwings. The hindwing margins are distinctly scalloped.
