Pearl Crescent
Image: Melissa McMasters from Memphis, TN, United States (CC BY 2.0)
Common NamePearl Crescent
Scientific NamePhyciodes tharos
FamilyNymphalidae
SubfamilyNymphalinae
Wingspan (mm)35
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsorange, black, brown
HabitatMeadows, fields, open woodlands, roadsides, disturbed areas
Geographic RangeSouthern Canada, most of the United States, and parts of Mexico
Host PlantsAster species
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods)
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid in clusters on the underside of aster leaves. Larvae are spiny and dark, feeding on aster leaves. They overwinter as partially grown larvae and pupate in spring, emerging as adults in a few weeks.
Identification TipsLook for the small size, the orange and black checkered pattern on the upperside, and the characteristic pale crescent mark on the underside of the hindwing, though this is not visible in the current image.
Description
This small butterfly has an orange and black checkered pattern on its upperside, with a distinctive dark border. The underside of the hindwing often features a pale, crescent-shaped spot, giving it its common name.
