Northern Crescent 

Northern Crescent (Phyciodes Cocyta)

• This butterflies caterpillars are mostly black with a row of large orange dots running down the middle

•  the Northern Crescent caterpillars uses Asters and members of the Sunflower family as hosts

• This species cocoons are brown and resemble the cocoons of the pearl crescent very closely

• Northern Crescent butterflies are very intricately patterned, while orange and black are the main colors on this butterfly, you may also see hints of yellow and silver

• The Northern Crescent was only recently described as a distinct species from the pearl crescent, these two species look very similar and the validity of this species is still contested by some scientists to this day  

• Native status: Native