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 25 - 48 of 14693 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 10, 2025
Submitted by: hornybunny
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 11, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Wayne County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 10, 2025
Observation date: Sep 08, 2025
Submitted by: Jorie
Region: Fayette County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 09, 2025
Observation date: Sep 06, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 07, 2025
Observation date: Sep 03, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 06, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Aug 03, 2025
Submitted by: hrr705
Region: Tulsa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 03, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2025
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 01, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 26, 2025
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2025
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2025
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 28, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2025
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 28, 2025
Observation date: Aug 24, 2025
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 25, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: NatLink25
Region: Jackson County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 25, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 25, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Summit County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 22, 2025
Submitted by: HarrellSarahD
Region: Adair County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 23, 2025
Observation date: Aug 20, 2025
Submitted by: HarrellSarahD
Region: Adair County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 22, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2025
Submitted by: HarrellSarahD
Region: Adair County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 22, 2025
Observation date: Aug 20, 2025
Submitted by: leskokid
Region: Monroe County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 21, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Ontario County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
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