A few days ago visiting butterfly watchers found an unusual looking crescent while wandering around the Roma birding overlook. Valley butterfly guru Mike Rickard later identified it as a Mexican Crescent. It's one of those typical spotted checkery Phyciodes species that can be so confusing. I've never seen one. All I know is it looks like a Phaon Crescent but the final pale spot on the subterminal row on the forewing lacks the black dot characteristic of Phaon and Pearl Crescents.
Well today I was taking it easy after putting in a hard day yesterday at the National Butterfly Center. I was editing photos and getting caught up with this blog and iNaturalist stuff when the GroupMe dinged. Bob Yukich had just found another Mexican Cresent at the butterfly center. I raced right over and there was the gang from yesterday and a few more admiring Bob's find right in front of the visitors center. All I had to do was get out of the jeep and walk a few feet. I like it when they're easy!
