Alabama Butterfly Atlas

Texan Crescents are southern-based butterflies that have extended their range northward. They are found in tight, distinct colonies, and within those, may be abundant.  They are the dark crescents that inhabit our state: Pearls and Phaons are orange butterflies with dark markings; Texans reverse the pattern.  With populations located mainly within the Coastal Region, they are bottomland butterflies, typically living near creeks, lakes, or rivers. Unlike their more sun-loving crescent relatives, they typically choose shaded edges and dappled sunlight, although they may imbibe moisture on sunny riverbanks.

Texan Crescents are an excellent example of why it is important to determine local host plants.  Virtually all the literature lists various water willows (Justicia spp.) as the primary, if not sole, Texan Crescent caterpillar hosts.  Yet in the few known Alabama colonies, extensive searches of water willow yielded no caterpillars, and the crescents in the area were not found in its direct vicinity.  Sara Bright and Paulette Ogard discovered that Texan Crescents chose to use another Acanthus family member, Branched Foldwing (Dicliptera brachiata), as their host at sites along the Alabama River.  Water Willow may be used elsewhere in Alabama, but the use of Branched Foldwing is an important piece of this uncommon species' life history puzzle.