• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Brushfooted Butterflies
  • Snouts
  • Heliconians and Fritillaries
  • True Brushfoots
  • Admirals and Relatives
  • Leafwings
  • Emperors
  • Satyrs
  • Monarchs
• True Brushfoots
  • Gorgone Checkerspot
  • Silvery Checkerspot
  • Harris’ Checkerspot
  • Pearl Crescent
  • Northern Crescent
  • Tawny Crescent
  • Baltimore Checkerspot
  • Question Mark
  • Eastern Comma
  • Satyr Comma
  • Green Comma
  • Gray Comma
  • Compton Tortoiseshell
  • California Tortoiseshell
  • Mourning Cloak
  • Milbert’s Tortoiseshell
  • American Lady
  • Painted Lady
  • Red Admiral
  • Common Buckeye

Northern Crescent

(Phyciodes selenis)

The Northern Crescent has been recognized as a separate species from the Pearl Crescent for only a quarter of a century. I have done a lot of reading about the differences between this species and the Pearl Crescent, usually in books and unfortunately not from the original source, but there seems to be so much confusion between these two species, that just when I think I understand the difference between the two, I read another species account and get more confused. Everything from antennae, crescents, broods, flight time, and distribution may differ. I think that this is mainly because geographical or brood differences in both species is great for a number of characteristics, and therefore descriptions of the species may not be valid for all geographical regions or times. To make things worse, there is still some controversy that these two species may actual be the same species.

Identifying characteristics: : Above, the species is black along the margins of the wings with a row of thin submarginal crescents that may or may not be noticeable. The rest of the wing is basically orange with a variety of variable dark markings. In the female hindwing, there is a nearly solid marginal line that breaks up the orange area, while the male is much more open, and is the main field mark for determining this species. Below, there is a darker area in the margin of the hindwing in the female usually has a pearl crescent in it, whereas the male has a large dark area without any lighter crescent.

Similar species: All three crescents are very much alike, especially the females. It is best to determine that this species is present by looking at the males. Above, Northern Crescent males are much more open and are easily distinguished from the Tawny or Pearl Crescents. Below the males have a dark area in the margin of the hindwing that has a darker, not lighter crescent, which may not even be discernable.

Habitat: Open field, roadsides, and woodland openings.

Flight: First brood is in June through early July, with a partial second brood in August.

Abundance: Can become fairly abundant in an area. Walking trails and roads can often result in large numbers of this species that seems to be fairly evenly distributed along these trails. I have seen well over a hundred individuals on several occasions

Recent Northern Crescent Sightings

Date seen	County	Reported by
Thursday	Rusk	Susan Mayer
Sunday	Eau Claire	Diane Sherman
Sunday	Wood	Ron Arnold
Sunday	Wood	Ron Arnold
Sunday	Washington	Dan Foster
08–22–2008	Wood	Ron Arnold
08–20–2008	Jackson	Mike Reese
08–19–2008	Marquette	Mike Reese
08–18–2008	Wood	Mike Reese
08–16–2008	Juneau	Mike Reese
08–16–2008	Door	Wayne Anderson
08–14–2008	Portage	Mike Reese
08–13–2008	Wood	Ron Arnold

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