North American Butterflies and Moths List

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The Registry of Nature Habitats

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Missouri

Cuban Crescent (Phyciodes frisia)
JPG -- species photo

Cuban Crescent (Phyciodes frisia [Poey])

Wing span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.5 cm).

Identification: Forewing is indented below wing tip. Upperside of forewing is black with orange markings; hindwing with black zigzag submarginal line.

Life history: Eggs are laid in batches on underside of host plant leaves; caterpillars feed at night in groups.

Flight: Most of the year in southern Florida, throughout the year in the tropics.

Caterpillar hosts: Shrimpflower (Beloperone guttata) in the acanthus family.

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Second growth and open fields.

Range: Resident of West Indies and southern Florida; strays to northern Florida.

Conservation: Not usually of concern.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.

References:


Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the Great Plains. Johns 

     Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.



Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern butterflies. Peterson 

     field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co., Boston. 396 pages, 48 color plates.



Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 

     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.



Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies. Houghton-Mifflin Co., 

     Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:


Heitzman, J.R. and Heitzman, J.E.  1987.  Butterflies and Moths of Missouri.

     Missouri Dept. of Conservation.  Jefferson City, MO.  385 pp. 



Layberry, R.A., Hall, P.W. & Lafontaine, D.J., 1998.  The Butterflies of 

     Canada.  University of Toronto Press, Toronto, ON.  280 pp. 

     

Opler, P.A. 1998. A field guide to eastern butterflies, revised format.

     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston.     

Cuban Crescent (Phyciodes frisia)
distribution map
map legend

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