A fine little fellow - the Pearl Crescent

[trehopr1]

Our native Pearl Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) is one of
the most common and/or ubiquitous butterflies of fields,
pastures, road edges, and vacant lots throughout most of
the United States (except the west coast).

Its range extends south throughout Mexico and northward
into southern Canada. It is variable in shades/markings and
unlike most butterflies it shows little or no "fear" or "flight"
desires due to intruders in its realm.

I have many times walked amongst Crescents often looking for
other butterflies I've spotted or whilst taking a breather in the
"heat of the day"; and yet all these fellows just go about their
business of pollinating, imbibing salt nutrients, or looking for mates.
They just fly about me and around me - lighting on my pants, net,
or sweaty arm unconcerned...

I like the species for its commonality and the lively "air" it gives
to any wild spaces you might find yourself in.

Typically, in the upper Midwest states the 1st (gen.) emerges in mid-May
with seemingly just a smattering of individuals to be seen. However, later
successive broods emerge in far greater numbers until late Sept/early Oct.

I have at times easily seen several hundreds in the span of walking about
just a few acres. However, despite such opportunity before me I (at best)
will only take 2 or 3 (if any at all). I've only got about a dozen specimens
all told and that really just suits me when it comes to this species !

Below, is a sampling of some of my captures.

[leptraps]

Phyciodes tharos is a very common Nymphalid across North America. In central Kentucky and Northern Ohio and South into Florida, even along the Rio Grande River it is a rather common species.

In the 1980's several papers were written attempting to describe several species within the species, Type "A" or Type "B" etc. Several, including me began rearing and could not produce the same results. The end result left the species as it is today. I was one of those who reared it several times and accomplished absolutely nothing other than nice long series of reared Phyciodes tharos. While collecting in the mountains of Virginia I encountered some very large specimens. Especially the female's.

In the end I managed to fill three Cornell Drawers full of specimens as well as a number of Schmidt Boxes.

In early 2000 I was given a location for a population of very large individuals. When I attempted to rear them, they produced slightly larger individuals. When I returned the following year, all I could find were typical Phyciodes tharos.

I collected some monsters in Michigan and some Midgets in Mississippi. However, the genitalia were all the same.

I must mention that a number Lepidopterist began rearing Phyciodes tharos to obtain specimens of the type "A" and type "B" individuals and could not achieve the same results.

[Paul K]

Phyciodes genus makes me always puzzled as there are supposedly few species in Ontario and I have very hard time to distinguish them apart, also same case with Rocky Mountains species.