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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 14750 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 06, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 10, 2026
Observation date: Jun 07, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 10, 2026
Observation date: Jun 07, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 10, 2026
Observation date: Jun 04, 2026
Submitted by: mikeandpaige
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 07, 2026
Observation date: Aug 03, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 04, 2026
Observation date: Aug 03, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 04, 2026
Observation date: May 08, 2026
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 03, 2026
Observation date: Jun 01, 2026
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 02, 2026
Observation date: May 30, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jun 01, 2026
Observation date: May 30, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jun 01, 2026
Observation date: May 30, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jun 01, 2026
Observation date: May 25, 2026
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 27, 2026
Observation date: May 23, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 27, 2026
Observation date: May 25, 2026
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Braxton County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 25, 2026
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Major County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 23, 2026
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Major County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 23, 2026
Observation date: Jul 20, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 23, 2026
Observation date: May 02, 2017
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Garfield County, Utah, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 17, 2026
Observation date: May 14, 2026
Submitted by: Sunny Glen Garden
Region: Delaware County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 16, 2026
Observation date: May 12, 2026
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 12, 2026
Observation date: Apr 03, 2026
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 01, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 01, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: Apr 01, 2026
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 10, 2026
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