Phyciodes tharos

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Pearl Crescent butterfly

Taxonomy:

  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Order: Lepidoptera
  • Family: Nymphalidae
  • Genus: Phyciodes
  • Species: tharos

Common Names by Region:

  • English: Pearl Crescent butterfly
  • French: Le Phyciodes tharos (Canada)
  • Spanish: Mariposa Crescente Perlada (Latin America)

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Description:

  • The Pearl Crescent butterfly is a small to medium-sized butterfly with wingspan ranging from 1 to 1.5 inches (2.5 to 3.8 cm).
  • The wings are primarily orange with black markings and a row of pearl-like spots along the outer edges of the hindwings, hence the name “Pearl Crescent.”
  • The underside of the wings is lighter in color with intricate patterns that provide camouflage when resting.
  • Males and females are similar in appearance, but females tend to have slightly larger wingspans.

Known Range:

  • Found throughout much of North America, from southern Canada to northern Mexico.
  • Habitat includes open areas such as fields, meadows, prairies, and disturbed areas.

Diet:

  • Larvae (caterpillars) feed primarily on various species of Asteraceae, including asters and daisies.
  • Adults feed on nectar from a wide range of flowering plants, including milkweeds, thistles, and goldenrods.

Breeding and Lifecycle:

  • Female Pearl Crescent butterflies lay their eggs singly on the leaves of host plants.
  • The caterpillars hatch from the eggs and feed on the host plants.
  • The caterpillars undergo several molts before pupating.
  • Pupation occurs on the host plant or nearby vegetation.
  • The adult butterfly emerges from the pupa after a few weeks, completing the lifecycle.
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