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 97 - 120 of 14702 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: May 20, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: May 19, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: May 07, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Apr 27, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 12, 2025
Submitted by: hockeybruce7
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 12, 2025
Submitted by: sharin
Region: Clarion County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2025
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: ForesterCox
Region: Ohio County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 12, 2025
Observation date: Jul 10, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 11, 2025
Observation date: Jun 25, 2025
Submitted by: Martin Neil UK
Region: Holt County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 04, 2025
Submitted by: Puidwen
Region: Greene County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 06, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Sep 20, 2020
Submitted by: AV-Photo1
Region: Suffolk County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 07, 2025
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: Geoff Urwin
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: SarahMia1019
Region: Washington County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 01, 2025
Submitted by: okeefenmt
Region: Dane County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Oct 18, 2024
Submitted by: B Reinsel
Region: Fairfax, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: MetamorphMe
Region: Barrow County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 25, 2012
Submitted by: jeremy_martin@m...
Region: Allegany County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 02, 2025
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