Tawny crescent facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tawny crescent |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Ottawa, Ontario, Canada | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: |
Phyciodes
|
| Species: |
P. batesii
|
| Binomial name | |
| Phyciodes batesii (Reakirt, 1865)
|
|
| Subspecies | |
|
|
The tawny crescent (scientific name: Phyciodes batesii) is a beautiful butterfly found in North America. It belongs to the Nymphalidae family, which includes many well-known butterflies like the monarch.
Contents
What Does the Tawny Crescent Look Like?
This butterfly has dark brown and orange colors on its upper side. Its front wings have a light band in the middle. They also have other bands closer to the edges. Female tawny crescents have black dots on their submarginal band. Both male and female butterflies have black and white antenna knobs. Their wings can spread from about 25 to 38 millimeters wide.
Life Cycle of the Tawny Crescent
Adult tawny crescent butterflies usually fly once a year. This happens between May and July. Sometimes, in Michigan, a few butterflies might have a second group of offspring. During their flight time, female butterflies lay their eggs. They lay them in groups on specific plants. The caterpillars, when they are in their third stage of growth (called an instar), will stop growing and hibernate for the winter.
What Do Tawny Crescent Caterpillars Eat?
- Aster undulatus (a type of aster plant)
What Do Adult Tawny Crescents Eat?
- Flower nectar
Butterflies That Look Similar
The tawny crescent can sometimes be confused with other butterflies. These include:
- Phyciodes cocyta – This is known as the northern crescent.
- Phyciodes tharos – This is called the pearl crescent.
These butterflies look alike, so it can be tricky to tell them apart!
