Summary ²

The Pearl Crescent (wingspan 25 - 45 mm) ranges over much of the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, and eastern Mexico. It prefers open spaces, moist meadows, fields, roadsides and, especially in the west, stream sides. Caterpillars feed on the leaves of asters. Adults fly from April to November in their northern range.

At the time historical lists were compiled and butterfly surveys were conducted within Glacier National Park, the species Phyciodes coctya (Northern Crescent) and Phyciodes tharos, were considered to be the same species. Now most sources (including ITIS) consider the Northern Crescent (Phyciodes cocyta) a unique species, separating the northern and Rocky Mountain population from the original Pearl Crescent range. The species overlap, apparently without hybridization, but are extremely difficult to distinguish in the field. The museum collection, and likely the majority of census counts from 1987-89, which are recorded as Pearl Crescents, are now considered Northern Crescents.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Bob Chinn, all rights reserved, uploaded by Bob Chinn
2. (c) Bob Chinn, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)

More Info

• iNat taxon page
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• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
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