Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)

Common and widespread in NC, these butterflies can be found on the wing from Spring into Fall and often visit flower gardens. Males and females are distinguished by the shape of the tip of the abdomen (fine point in females; blunt in males).

Beware that identification can be challenging at times, and Pearl Crescents can be confused with Mimic Crescent (P. incognitus), Phaon Crescent (P. phaon), and Silvery Checkerspot (Chlosyne nycteis).


Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pettigrew State Park
Washington Co., NC
21 June 2006

Mated pair with the male on the right.


Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Currituck Co., NC
20 Aug 2014

On Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata)


Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Game Land, Caswell Co., NC
3 May 2020

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Umstead S.P., Wake Co., NC
11 Aug 2023

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Rougemont, Durham Co., NC
7 June 2017

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC
12 May 2023

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Brumley Nature Preserve, Orange Co., NC
4 May 2023

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Flat River Impoundment, Durham Co., NC
10 Apr 2008
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Clay Co., NC
19 May 2007

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Wake Co., NC
20 June 2009

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Game Land, Caswell Co., NC
3 May 2020

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Durham Co., NC
11 Oct 2013

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Chatham Co., NC
19 Sep 2009
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Chatham Co., NC
19 Sep 2009

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pender Co., NC
19 Sep 2009
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Durham Co., NC
28 June 2009

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Duke Forest Durham Division, Durham Co., NC
9 Aug 2017

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Duke Forest Durham Division, Durham Co., NC
18 Sep 2017

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Caldwell Co., NC
23 Aug 2016
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Caldwell Co., NC
23 Aug 2016

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Caldwell Co., NC
23 Aug 2016
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Wilkes Co., NC
24 Aug 2016

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Holly Shelter Game Land, Pender Co., NC
11 Sep 2016

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Sandhills Game Lands, Moore Co., NC
28 Apr 2019
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC
19 Apr 2020

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Rodanthe, Dare Co., NC
20 Oct 2017

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Alligator River NWR, Dare Co., NC
22 Oct 2023

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Hill Forest, Durham Co., NC
16 Aug 2020

<
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Heintooga, Swain Co., NC
12 July 2011

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Sandy Mush Gameland, Buncombe Co., NC
13 July 2011
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Sandy Mush Gameland, Buncombe Co., NC
13 July 2011

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Sandy Mush Gameland, Buncombe Co., NC
13 July 2011

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Alligator River NWR, Dare Co., NC
23 Oct 2011
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
3 Sep 2022

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), male
Alamance Co., NC
29 Apr 2023

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), male
Alamance Co., NC
29 Apr 2023

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), female
Alamance Co., NC
29 Apr 2023

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), female
Alamance Co., NC
29 Apr 2023

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Alamance Co., NC
29 Apr 2023
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Alamance Co., NC
29 Apr 2023

#3441
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Alleghany Co., NC
23 May 2023

#3251
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Wilkes Co., NC
23 May 2023

#3237
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Wilkes Co., NC
23 May 2023

#3198
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Haywood Co., NC
19 May 2023

While the dorsal view looks good for Incognito/Northern Crescent, the ventral view appears to show black antennal club undersides, indicating this is a Pearl.


#3096
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Haywood Co., NC
19 May 2023

#3007
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Haywood Co., NC
19 May 2023

#2718
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Madison Co., NC
18 May 2023

#2698
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Madison Co., NC
18 May 2023

#3259
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Wilkes Co., NC
23 May 2023
#3005
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Haywood Co., NC
19 May 2023

#2037
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Holly Shelter GL, Pender Co., NC
11 Apr 2023

#1986
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Holly Shelter GL, Pender Co., NC
11 Apr 2023

#2938
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Haywood Co., NC
19 May 2023

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) #2843
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Haywood Co., NC
13 May 2005

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Haywood Co., NC
13 May 05
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Haywood Co., NC
13 May 05

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) #3613
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Clay Co., NC
21 May 2005

Note black underside of clubs


Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) #3613
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Clay Co., NC
21 May 2005

Where their ranges overlap in the NC mountains with Mimic Crescents, Pearls are generally smaller and the undersides of the antennal clubs on males are black (not red-orange). Note that the tips of the clubs may have varying degrees of orange, as this individual shows.


Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Durham Co., NC
1 May 2005
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Watauga Co., NC
27 June 04

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Person Co., NC
Mayo Lake County Park
6 Sep 2003
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Brunswick Co., NC
31 May 2004

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Buncombe Co., NC
8 July 2006

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Durham Co., NC
3 Oct 2004
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Caswell Co., NC
17 Jun 2006

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Watauga Co., NC
23 July 2006
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Female
Watauga Co., NC
23 July 2006

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
#3729
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Watauga Co., NC
23 July 2006
#1526
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Macon Co., NC
12 May 2006

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) #1526
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Macon Co., NC
12 May 2006

Pearl Crescent - dorsal Pearl Crescent - ventral Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Caldwell Co., NC
28 June 2003

This odd looking crescent has an abnormal amount of black pigment.



Below are Pearl Crescents from IN and OH
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), male
Muscatatuck NWR, Jackson Co., IN
27 July 2015

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), Male
Muscatatuck NWR, Jackson Co., IN
27 July 2015

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), female
Muscatatuck NWR, Jackson Co., IN
27 July 2015

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos), female
Kankakee Sands, Newton Co., IN
30 July 2015

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Hocking Hills, Logan Co., OH
2 Oct 2020


Beow are Pearl Crescents from MT
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos orantain)
Angela, Rosebud Co., MT
2 June 2014

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos orantain)
Elkhorn Creek, Lewis & Clark Co., MT
7 June 2016

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos orantain)
Elkhorn Creek, Lewis & Clark Co., MT
7 June 2016


Below are Pearl Crescents from Wyoming
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos orantain)
Lamar Valley, Co., Park Co., WY
6 May 2015


Below are Pearl Crescents from TX
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Brazoria Co., TX
29 Mar 2018

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Hudson Woods Unit, San Bernard NWR, Brazoria Co., TX
29 Mar 2018

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Brazoria Co., TX
29 Mar 2018

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Eagle Nest Lake Unit, San Bernard NWR, Brazoria Co., TX
24 Apr 2018

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Sam Houston WMA, Walker Co., TX
1 Apr 2018

Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Brazos Bend SP, Brazoria Co., TX
23 Apr 2018


Below are Pearl Crescents from eastern Canada
Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos)
Perth Wildlife Preserve, Lanark Co., Ontario
12 July 2018



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Created on ... June 28, 2003 | jeffpippen9@gmail.com