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The Pearl Crescent

Phyciodes tharos (Phy-ci-o'des tha'ros) PLATE XXII, FIG. 9, 10, 12, 13 This species varies greatly in the markings of both upper and lower surface; but it can be distinguished from the allied species found in the East by the characteristics given in the table on page 124. It is not always easy to distinguish the sexes; but usually the yellow of the outer half of the fore wings is more broken by black lines in the female than in the male, and frequently the sinuous row of spots just beyond the middle of the fore wings is of a lighter color in the female. Expanse of wings one and one-half to one and seven-tenths inches. The species is dimorphic. The two forms are not distinguishable from above, but differ in the markings of the lower surface of the hind wings. (1) The Spring Form, Phyciodes tharos tharos. The ground color of the lower side of the hind wings varies from bright yellow to brown sometimes with much white over the basal area, and has strongly contrasting markings. This form was described by Edwards under the name marcia. (2) The Summer Form, Phyciodes tharos morpheus. The ground color of the lower side of the hind wings is a yellowbuff with comparatively inconspicuous markings especially in the male.

This is a widely distributed species ranging from British Columbia and Labrador to Mexico and from the Atlantic to Montana and Colorado. In the extreme North it is singlebrooded and only the spring form occurs. In New England it is double-brooded, and the second brood is of the summer form. In the South there are several broods.

CATERPILLAR. -Length, three-fourths of an inch. Body ornamented with rows of yellowish spines; body color black with yellow dots and a yellow band along the side.

Food-plant. Asters.

The general color effect of this butterfly is red brown with uneven blackish margins; but when examined closely the markings above and below are seen to be most elaborate. It is very numerous, and is found everywhere in the United States except in southern Florida and in the Southwest.

It loves open, sunny, weedy places, and is one of the butterflies which loves to drink socially with its fellows around the mud-puddle. It is a slow flyer, being a sluggish insect in all its stages.

The caterpillars are social when they first hatch from the egg and live on the parenchyma on the lower side of the leaf; later they eat holes into the leaf. When disturbed they coil up and drop.

There are two broods, and the caterpillars of the second brood when about half-grown hide in safe corners and there pass the winter.