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 14554 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Jun 10, 2024
Submitted by: krohling
Region: Pope County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2024
Submitted by: aarongunnar
Region: Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Dare County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 15, 2024
Observation date: Sep 26, 2022
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Richland County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 15, 2024
Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Jackson County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 12, 2024
Observation date: Aug 06, 2024
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 06, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Preston County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: May 22, 2024
Submitted by: Reedberg
Region: Pettis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: Severino Carbone
Region: Otsego County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 30, 2024
Submitted by: jbrumberg
Region: Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 31, 2024
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
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