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Tawny Crescent

Phyciodes batesii

The Tawny Crescent is a beautiful butterfly with orange and brown wings. It loves to flutter around flowers and is often seen in sunny places during warm days.

Habitat: Grasslands

Appearance

The Tawny Crescent is a small butterfly with a wingspan of about an inch. Its upper wings are a vibrant tawny orange, heavily marked with black lines and small, dark spots. A distinctive row of pale crescent shapes can be seen along the hindwing margins, setting it apart.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderLepidopteraFamilyNymphalidaeGenusPhyciodes
Tawny Crescent
solitary trait badgecamouflaged trait badgecolorful trait badgegrassland trait badge
Tawny Crescent

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Adult Tawny Crescents love sunshine and are most active on warm, bright days!

Baby Tawny Crescents munch on aster leaves, growing strong before becoming butterflies!

The 'crescent' in their name comes from pale moon shapes on their hindwings!

They spend the winter as caterpillars, tucked away until spring arrives!

Special abilities

Ability

Master of Disguise

Tawny Crescents have tawny orange and black wing patterns that help them blend into flowery meadows, making it harder for predators to spot them.

Ability

Nectar Sipper

Tawny Crescents possess a long, straw-like proboscis that allows them to reach deep inside flowers to drink sugary nectar for energy.

Ability

Caterpillar Camouflage

Their caterpillars are often cryptically colored, allowing them to hide on their host plants and avoid hungry birds.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
25-35 mm
Size
12-18 mm
Lifespan
14-21 days
Flight Speed
12 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults sip sweet flower nectar for energy; caterpillars munch on leaves to grow big!

Age differences: Caterpillars eat plant leaves; adult butterflies drink flower nectar.

Primary Foods

  • flower nectar
  • aster leaves
  • goldenrod leaves
  • sunflower leaves

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

hunts

Blue Jay

Cyanocitta cristata

Blue jays prey on butterflies and their caterpillars.

pollinates

New England Aster

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae

Adults transfer pollen as they sip nectar from aster flowers.

hunts

Ringed Paper Wasp

Polistes annularis

Wasps can capture and feed butterflies or their larvae.

depends on

Canada Goldenrod

Solidago canadensis

Caterpillars feed on the leaves of this common plant for growth.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Be gentle and watch butterflies from a distance so they don't get scared.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Tawny Crescent's wingspan?

25-35 mm

How big is Tawny Crescent?

12-18 mm

How long does Tawny Crescent live?

14-21 days

How fast can Tawny Crescent fly?

12 km/h

What does Tawny Crescent eat?

Adults sip sweet flower nectar for energy; caterpillars munch on leaves to grow big!

Where is Tawny Crescent usually found?

Grasslands

How does Tawny Crescent hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Tawny Crescent have?

6

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