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Butterflies of Zihuatanejo

SUPERFAMILY PAPILIONOIDEA

-Animals (Kingdom Animalia)

-Arthropods (Phylum Arthropoda)

-Hexapods (Subphylum Hexapoda)

-Insects (Class Insecta)

-Winged and Once-winged Insects (Subclass Pterygota)

-Butterflies and Moths (Order Lepidoptera)

-Butterflies (Superfamily Papilionoidea)

-Brush-footed Butterflies (Family Nymphalidae)

-Checkerspots, Anglewings, Peacocks, and Allies (Subfamily Nymphalinae)

-Checkerspots (Tribe Melitaeini)

-Genus Anthanassa

-Brown Crescent (Anthanassa atronia)


Phyciodes atronia, commonly known as the Brown Crescent, is a small butterfly in the family Nymphalidae. It belongs to a group of closely related “crescent” butterflies. This species is found in Mexico and Central America, inhabiting open areas, forest edges, and disturbed habitats. Adults are often seen perching on low vegetation or visiting flowers for nectar, while also occasionally taking moisture from soil or decaying organic matter.

Diet

  • Adults: Feed primarily on flower nectar, visiting small composite and other nectar-rich flowers in sunny openings and along forest edges.

Range

  • Anthanassa atronia occurs from Mexico south through Guatemala and Central America to Panama, with records from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.

  • Around Zihua, Anthanassa atronia would likely be considered occasional, particularly in suitable forest-edge and semi-open habitats. Its documented Mexican range makes its occurrence in western Mexico plausible, although it is not among the most conspicuous butterflies around Zihuatanejo.

Habitat

  • Primarily associated with tropical forest, forest clearings, edges, pastures and disturbed open areas.

  • It is particularly suited to places where patches of forest vegetation meet sunny openings and flowering plants. Members of Anthanassa are generally characteristic butterflies of these semi-open tropical environments.

Size

  • Approximately 35–45 mm wingspan.

Brown Crescent

Anthanassa atronia

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