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 73 - 96 of 14542 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 03, 2024
Submitted by: John Heneghan
Region: Kane County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 01, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 04, 2024
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 30, 2024
Submitted by: tmlehman
Region: Huntington County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 02, 2024
Observation date: Jun 24, 2024
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: Lee County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 28, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: speele
Region: Pickens County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 26, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: May 13, 2024
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Darke County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2024
Submitted by: Gingurr25
Region: Posey County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 11, 2024
Observation date: Apr 14, 2024
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Jun 09, 2024
Observation date: Jun 02, 2024
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 01, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 01, 2024
Observation date: May 30, 2024
Submitted by: BeaLaporte
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 31, 2024
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: turtlefish
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 31, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: bekkfree
Region: Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 30, 2024
Observation date: May 27, 2024
Submitted by: lizmcd
Region: Garrett County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 28, 2024
Observation date: May 24, 2024
Submitted by: zbeckb
Region: Brown County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 25, 2024
Observation date: Jul 03, 2022
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Page County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Jul 08, 2022
Submitted by: c4c
Region: Botetourt County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 05, 2021
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: Prince William County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Apr 30, 2023
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
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