Northern Crescent |
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| Phyciodes cocyta (Cramer, 1777) |
| Status: Rare resident. |
| Flight Period(s): Morrone (2002) reports that in South Dakota the one flight normally occurs from mid-June to mid-July. |
| Range: This Crescent is primarily northern in distribution although it also inhabits higher elevations in the western United States. It can be found from northern British Columbia east through southern Canada to the Atlantic seaboard. In the eastern United States it extends southwards through New York, Michigan, Minnesota, and North Dakota. In the western United States it can be found at higher elevations south into central New Mexico. In Nebraska it has been found in some of our northern most counties in the western half of the state (Sioux, Sheridan and Cherry Counties). |
| Larval Hostplant(s): Asters, of which Smooth Blue Aster (Aster laevis) is mentioned in particular. |
| Overwinter: As partially grown caterpillar. |
| Commentary/Habitat: This species was just recently (the last 15-20 years) separated from the Pearly Crescent, and has gone through a number of nomenclature changes as taxonomists searched for the earliest description of the species to arrive at a valid name. In recent literature is has been refered to as Phyciodes pascoensis, P. selenis, and P. morpheus. Although this species can be abundant in South Dakota’s Black Hills it is rare in Nebraska. It should be sought along streamsides and wet areas in the northwestern portion of the state. |
| Similar Species: Pearly and Tawny Crescents |
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