Pearl Crescent
(Phyciodes orantain – formerly Phyciodes tharos)
True Brushfoots
Appearance: Above, mostly orange with black reticulations (a pattern or arrangement of interlacing lines resembling a net); male has wide black margins on forewing and hindwing. Below, forewing pale orange and yellow with brown markings. Hindwing, pale yellow with variable brown patches in the margin area, sometimes obscuring the marginal light crescent.
Wingspan: Small; 1 to 1 1/2 inches.
Habitat: Open areas in fields, roadsides, woodland edges, paths near stream courses and moist areas; plains, foothills, montane.
Flight Times: April to July; one brood. Caterpillar overwinters.
Larval Foodplant: Asters.
Did You Know…
Pearl Crescents are widespread and geographically and seasonably variable. In addition, in some areas they may hybridize with the quite similar Northern Crescent. Therefore, they can present an ID problem for the casual (and not so casual) observer.
