Pearl crescent
Phyciodes tharos
Butterfly
The pearl crescent is a small orange-and-black brushfoot whose caterpillars feed almost exclusively on the foliage of native asters (Asteraceae), mainly Symphyotrichum species. Females lay eggs in clusters on the undersides of aster leaves, and the species produces multiple broods per year, so larvae can be present through much of the growing season. Adults are generalist nectar feeders on low composites and other open flowers.
Plan for this species
Location-fit plant set for Chicago, IL: host and specialist plants first, then nectar, fruit, seed, foliage, and shelter plants that still fit the current and mid-century climate read.
5 essential relationships / 1 supporting plant
Host/specialist links: 5
Forage/pollination links: 1
Shelter links: 0
Relationship roles: 2
New England aster
Essential / Larval host plants
BAMONA documents Phyciodes tharos larvae on Symphyotrichum asters including New England aster (S. novae-angliae).
New York aster
Essential / Larval host plants
NC State Extension names New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) as a host plant for the pearl crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos).
Smooth blue aster
Essential / Larval host plants
Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve, syn. Aster laevis) is named among the aster larval hosts of Phyciodes tharos.
Aromatic aster
Essential / Larval host plants
Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) is a native Symphyotrichum; pearl crescent hosts on Symphyotrichum at genus level (BAMONA), no species-specific citation.
White wood aster
Essential / Larval host plants
White wood aster (Eurybia divaricata) is a documented Phyciodes tharos larval host; kept conservative as plausible since the genus differs from the chiefly-cited Symphyotrichum.
Black-eyed Susan
Supporting / Nectar plants
NABA and the Alabama Butterfly Atlas list black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) as an adult nectar source for Phyciodes tharos.
Plants in the catalog
Larval host plants · 5
Aromatic aster (Symphyotrichum oblongifolium) is a native Symphyotrichum; pearl crescent hosts on Symphyotrichum at genus level (BAMONA), no species-specific citation.
BAMONA documents Phyciodes tharos larvae on Symphyotrichum asters including New England aster (S. novae-angliae).
NC State Extension names New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii) as a host plant for the pearl crescent butterfly (Phyciodes tharos).
Smooth blue aster (Symphyotrichum laeve, syn. Aster laevis) is named among the aster larval hosts of Phyciodes tharos.
White wood aster (Eurybia divaricata) is a documented Phyciodes tharos larval host; kept conservative as plausible since the genus differs from the chiefly-cited Symphyotrichum.
Nectar plants · 6
NABA and the Alabama Butterfly Atlas list black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) as an adult nectar source for Phyciodes tharos.
Goldenrods (Solidago) are documented pearl crescent fall nectar sources; Canada goldenrod is Solidago canadensis.
A small eastern nymphalid that is on the wing continuously through the tickseed bloom period and feeds heavily at low, open, yellow composites. Listed on the same footing as the skippers - flower shape, height and flight period all fit, but no source cited here names it on Coreopsis grandiflora.
NABA / Alabama Butterfly Atlas list Rudbeckia as an adult nectar source for Phyciodes tharos; the citation names R. hirta, so treat this as genus-level for R. fulgida.
A small aster-associated butterfly of open ground and roadsides, on the wing through the whole of this bloom season and a habitual visitor to low yellow composites. Listed as plausible on habitat and timing: the cited sources record butterfly nectar value at category level only. Note that the pearl crescent breeds on asters rather than on coreopsis, so this is a nectar relationship and not a host-plant one.
NABA / Alabama Butterfly Atlas list purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) as an adult pearl crescent nectar plant.
Range
Widespread across North America east of the Rocky Mountains, from southern Canada south to Mexico, and into parts of the Intermountain West.
Sources & citations
Cite this page
Use this citation for the Plotwright wildlife record. Use the source cards below to explore the references that informed its taxonomy, range, conservation, host plants, foraging, and habitat.
Plotwright. (n.d.). Pearl crescent (Phyciodes tharos). Retrieved 2026, August 20, from https://plotwright.com/wildlife/pearl-crescent
Sources used for this record
This record is compiled from the sources below.
BAMONA: Pearl crescent
Species profile for range, multiple broods, aster host use, egg laying, and adult nectar sources.
MDC Field Guide: Pearl crescent
State agency species account used for identification detail, larval and adult food, and life-cycle timing. Missouri-scoped, so it is not cited for continental range.
Wikipedia: Phyciodes tharos
Corroborating reference for aster host specialization and widespread eastern range.
GBIF: Phyciodes tharos
GBIF returns an exact accepted match to Phyciodes tharos (usageKey 1918988) in family Nymphalidae.
iNaturalist: Phyciodes tharos
iNaturalist resolves Phyciodes tharos to active taxon 52925, the pearl crescent.