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 14542 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 28, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jul 15, 2022
Submitted by: Gregkjones1753
Region: Hanover County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 17, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 20, 2024
Observation date: May 01, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 12, 2024
Observation date: May 04, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 10, 2024
Observation date: Apr 25, 2024
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Rush County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 08, 2024
Observation date: May 01, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 02, 2024
Observation date: Apr 26, 2024
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Fairfield County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 28, 2024
Observation date: Apr 12, 2024
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Grundy County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 16, 2024
Observation date: Apr 08, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Sevier County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 04, 2024
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 18, 2018
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Apr 03, 2024
Observation date: Oct 07, 2023
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
Observation date: Mar 23, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 23, 2024
Observation date: Sep 27, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Lyon County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Mar 15, 2024
Observation date: Mar 04, 2024
Submitted by: pamelmmc
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 04, 2023
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 15, 2024
Observation date: Sep 23, 2023
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2024
Observation date: Sep 21, 2023
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2024
Observation date: Sep 21, 2023
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 05, 2024
Observation date: Oct 04, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Sep 30, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
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