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 193 - 216 of 14542 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 14, 2023
Submitted by: bekkfree
Region: Cowley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: Leo York
Region: Anderson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: altoonamothlady
Region: Lake County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: fmroth
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: fmroth
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2023
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2023
Submitted by: heather-russell
Region: Orange County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: Dawn Cavalieri
Region: Bronx County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 26, 2023
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 05, 2023
Submitted by: Susanurban
Region: Vinton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 07, 2023
Observation date: Jul 04, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Osceola County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: Jun 29, 2023
Submitted by: Col
Region: Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Jun 29, 2023
Submitted by: Col
Region: Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: May 19, 2023
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 23, 2023
Observation date: Jun 21, 2023
Submitted by: sskoens
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: ddorn
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: Gingurr25
Region: Posey County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 17, 2023
Observation date: Jun 08, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Cumberland County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 09, 2023
Submitted by: rohrjk
Region: Washington County, Vermont, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 09, 2023
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