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 289 - 312 of 14546 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 24, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kay County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Granite County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 10, 2022
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Sep 27, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: davek
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 26, 2022
Submitted by: dlister
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Sep 20, 2022
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 22, 2022
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 29, 2022
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Sep 14, 2022
Submitted by: gjkoppel
Region: York County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: mysorekid
Region: Elkhart County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Sep 08, 2022
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Sep 09, 2022
Submitted by: ydlrun
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 14, 2022
Observation date: Sep 11, 2022
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 13, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 08, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 04, 2022
Submitted by: MattiSchepp127
Region: Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 06, 2022
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: Nooganaturalist
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 08, 2021
Submitted by: Diane Ewald
Region: Crawford County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Aug 29, 2022
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: May 30, 2022
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Livingston County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Sep 03, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: nc1marm
Region: St. Clair County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 28, 2022
Submitted by: Marquy275
Region: Wayne County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 31, 2022
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
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