Butterflies of North Carolina

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Scientific Name begins with:
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Once on a species account page, clicking on the "View PDF" link will show the flight data for that species, for each of the three regions of the state.
Other information, such as high counts and earliest/latest dates, can also been seen on the PDF page.

Related Species in NYMPHALIDAE:
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Common Name

Pearl Crescent by Betty Anderson => WB Umstead State Park, 2004-05-04
[View PDF]

Click to enlarge
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Scientific Name

Phyciodes tharos

Link to BAMONA species account.

Map

Click on a county for list of all database records for the species in that county.

Distribution

DISTRIBUTION: Statewide; occurs in all 100 counties, ranging from the higher Mountains to the immediate coast.

Abundance

ABUNDANCE: Very common statewide; one of the most widespread and often seen butterflies. Appears to be equally numerous in the Mountains as in other provinces. It is more numerous in late summer and fall than it is in April and May.

Flight

FLIGHT PERIOD: Many broods (four or five) that essentially overlap; there is a continuous presence in NC from mid-March to late November. In the Mountains, the species is rarely found into November, and it is also scarce in March.

Habitat

HABITAT: Extremely widespread in most any sunny locations -- fields, wooded borders, yards, etc. Not associated with interior forested areas, but certainly one of the more frequently seen butterflies along woodland edges and powerline clearings.

See also Habitat Account for General Fields, Gardens, and Ruderal Habitats

Plants

FOOD AND NECTAR PLANTS: Foodplants are essentially asters (mainly in the genus Symphyotrichum). Ironically, because it is such a widespread species, the butterfly observer would never suspect what plants are the foodplants! Nectar plants are very widespread, but they are usually low-growing herbs, as opposed to tall herbs or large shrubs.

Comments

COMMENTS: Observers should learn this species well, especially the various forms of it; the underparts are quite varied in coloration and pattern. Five other similar-looking species (Phaon, Tawny, and Incognito crescents, and Silvery and Gorgone checkerspots) occur in the state and can be confused with the Pearl Crescent. This is particularly true in the Mountains, where all of the above except Phaon Crescent are found.

There are a few color forms/types of Pearl Crescent, and a few such "forms" (not including the Incognito Crescent) have been mentioned in the literature as potential splits from this widespread and abundant species. [NOTE: The Incognito Crescent (P. incognitus) was actually recently split off from the Northern Crescent (P. cocyta), and not from the Pearl Crescent; the Northern Crescent occurs from VA northward.] It would come as little surprise if what we still know as the Pearl Crescent (in NC or in the Eastern States) is actually composed of more than just one species.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Links to other butterfly galleries: [Cook] [Lynch] [Pippen] [Pugh]
Photo Gallery for Pearl Crescent
	Photo by: Scott Hartley Comment: Weymouth Woods-Sandhills Nature Preserve, Moore Co.; 2005-July-23 Pearl Crescent - Click to enlarge	Photo by: Lori Arent Comment: 2020-10-27. Wake Co. female Pearl Crescent - Click to enlarge
	Photo by: Will Stuart Comment: September 20, 2020. Richmond County; female Pearl Crescent - Click to enlarge	Photo by: Sven Halling Comment: Sep 7, 2013, Pilot Mountain State Park, Surry Co.; male Pearl Crescent - Click to enlarge
	Photo by: Sven Halling Comment: Sep 9, 2013, Dobson, Surry Co. Pearl Crescent - Click to enlarge	Photo by: Sven Halling Comment: June 8, 2012, Winston-Salem; male Pearl Crescent - Click to enlarge
	Photo by: Sven Halling Comment: May 17, 2012, Madison County Pearl Crescent - Click to enlarge	Photo by: Chris Talkington Comment: Mecklenburg County, 21-Apr-2014 Pearl Crescent - Click to enlarge