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 49 - 72 of 14542 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 27, 2024
Submitted by: vvryabyy
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 27, 2024
Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 27, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: Steven Wilson
Region: Nicholas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 27, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: chirpingbirds
Region: Morgan County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 25, 2024
Observation date: Jul 24, 2024
Submitted by: Jessica Howell
Region: Rosebud County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 25, 2024
Observation date: Jul 18, 2024
Submitted by: Elisabeth_Cassinari
Region: Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 25, 2024
Observation date: Jul 17, 2024
Submitted by: Brad DeLaney
Region: Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 24, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: Hazem255
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: SIG@animallover
Region: Franklin County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 21, 2024
Observation date: Jul 18, 2024
Submitted by: Gingurr25
Region: Posey County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 15, 2024
Submitted by: trever
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 14, 2024
Submitted by: danahoover
Region: Cambria County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2024
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 12, 2024
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: Jul 12, 2024
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 13, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: hsmarshall
Region: Humphreys County, Mississippi, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: NNing
Region: Lake County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2024
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