I love seeing a new species of any insect in my garden, but I really get excited over the lepidoptera. A new butterfly or moth is something I like to shout from the rooftops. So, let me shout, Phaon Crescents are flitting in my garden!
Ok, so now that the shouting is done, exactly what is a Phaon Crescent? From out of the corner of my eye I thought I had seen a small Gulf Fritillary, but it’s flight pattern was different and it was just too small. Then I thought Common Buckeye since it was very low to the ground, hanging amongst the blades of grass like Buckeyes often do. Then I crossed that off my list because it didn’t have that distinct circle on the forewings.
I was able to get closer and snap some pictures, but I think this little butterfly was on her last days. She seemed worn and just too tired to make the effort to get away from me. Normally, the Crescents don’t let me get too close.
I do know that the Phaon Crescent uses Turkey Tangle Fogfruit as a host plant, and I just so happen to have a bunch of it in a flower bed near the front porch. I’m hoping that’s where she came from and that more will be coming soon.
Buzzing Blossoms 