Phyciodes pratensis
Field Crescent
Male Female
There used to be a very few small, isolated colonies on southern Vancouver Island, but, for one reason or another -- “development”, or change in vegetation -- they all disappeared and the butterfly seemed to have vanished from the area. In 2004 the species was re-discovered in three localities, where they may have been present unnoticed before. The sexual dimorphism is sufficiently obvious that, when first described, the two sexes were given separate scientific names – P. pratensis for the male and P. campestris for the female. I have not yet found the caterpillars; they are supposed to feed on Aster and to spend the winter in the caterpillar stage.