Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1
Phyciodes graphica
This record describes Phyciodes graphica (species). Recorded family: Nymphalidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Bright orange with dark lines dividing the wings up into numerous bars and cells. Lacks contrasting bands above or below wings. Some hindwings cells contain dark spots, but there are no such spots on the forewing.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
- Subfamily
- Nymphalinae
- Tribe
- Melitaeini
- Genus
- Phyciodes (Crescents)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
a variety of open, dry habitats
Geographic Range
NM-TX-OK (rarely in CO-KS) / Mex. to C. Amer. - MPG
Seasonal Activity
Apr-Nov - MPG
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval Foodplants: Gregg's tube tongue - Siphonoglossa pilosella (Acanthaceae) - BOA
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Phyciodes graphica. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joshua Stuart Rose; Additional contributions by cotinis , Mike Quinn , David Ferguson
Frequently Asked Questions About Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1
What is Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1?
Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1 (Phyciodes graphica) is a species in the family Nymphalidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1?
Bright orange with dark lines dividing the wings up into numerous bars and cells. Lacks contrasting bands above or below wings. Some hindwings cells contain dark spots, but there are no such spots on the forewing.
Where is Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | a variety of open, dry habitats |
| Range | NM-TX-OK (rarely in CO-KS) / Mex. to C. Amer. - MPG |
What does Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1 eat?
The diet of the Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1 includes Larval Foodplants: Gregg's tube tongue - Siphonoglossa pilosella (Acanthaceae) - BOA.
When is Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1 active?
Vesta Crescent - Hodges#4479.1: seasonal activity - Apr-Nov - MPG.