Pearl Crescent
Phyciodes tharos (Drury, 1773)
Family: Nymphalidae
Subfamily: Nymphalinae
Identification: Quite variable. Males usually have black antennal knobs. Upperside is orange with black borders; postmedian and submarginal areas are crossed by fine black marks. Underside of hindwing has a dark marginal patch containing a light-colored crescent. Spring and fall broods (form marcia) have a gray mottled hindwing below.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol open areas for females. Eggs are laid in small batches on underside of host plant leaves. Caterpillars eat leaves and are gregarious when young. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars.
Flight: Several broods; from April-November in the north, throughout the year in the Deep South and Mexico.
Caterpillar Hosts: Several species of smooth-leaved true asters including Aster pilosus, A. texanus, and A. laevis.
Adult Food: Nectar from a great variety of flowers including dogbane, swamp milkweed, shepherd's needle, asters, and winter cress.
Habitat: Open areas such as pastures, road edges, vacant lots, fields, open pine woods.
Range: Southeastern Alberta south through Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and southeastern California to Mexico; east to southern Ontario and all the eastern United States.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 14289 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 26, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: Grand County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 15, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: Shane Miller
Region: Beaver County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Jul 28, 2022
Submitted by: Staci Gibson
Region: Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 14, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Warren County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: Ohio97
Verified date: Nov 09, 2022
Observation date: Nov 01, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Nov 04, 2022
Observation date: Sep 06, 2022
Submitted by: bchensel
Region: Cabarrus County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 01, 2022
Observation date: Oct 29, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 30, 2022
Observation date: Oct 14, 2022
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 22, 2022
Observation date: Oct 17, 2022
Submitted by: spmaestro
Region: Ellis County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 25, 2018
Submitted by: baxterj
Region: Iroquois County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: JolieElise
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Jul 07, 2022
Submitted by: dcharris555
Region: Onondaga County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 17, 2022
Observation date: Oct 01, 2019
Submitted by: Love2learn
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Oct 02, 2019
Submitted by: Love2learn
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Sep 25, 2019
Submitted by: Love2learn
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Oct 12, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Bob Crowley
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 05, 2022
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Lauderdale County, Alabama, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Sep 13, 2022
Submitted by: thoscole
Region: Cobb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: Allen B
Verified date: Oct 12, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: Chip Gilbert
Region: Greenville County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 10, 2022
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