Butterfly populations are a very good indicator of the health of an area's ecosystem !!
The Crescent's average wingspan is about 1.5 inches (approximately 3.8 cm).
It is found in all parts of the United States except the west coast, and throughout Mexico and parts of southern Canada, in particular Ontario.
Its habitat is open areas such as pastures, road edges, vacant lots, fields, open pine woods
Adults find nectar from a great variety of flowers including dogbane, swamp milkweed, shepherd's needle, asters, and winter cress.
Males patrol open areas for females.
After mating, the eggs are laid in small batches on the underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat the leaves and are gregarious when young.
* There are three subspecies of the Crescent butterfly.
Avg. Wingspan: 3.2 - 4.5 cm / 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 "
Avg. Body Length: 16-18 mm / .63 - .71"
Diet: adults take nectar from dogbane, swamp milkweed, shepherd's needle, asters and winter cress.
Kingdom: Animalia, Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta, Order: Lepidoptera
