Pearl Crescent

The Pearl Crescent is one of the most common and widespread butterflies in the eastern United States. It is also one of the hardest butterflies to identify with certainty, because of two very similar butterflies, the Northern and Tawny Crescents. It like to hang out in open areas such as pastures, road edges, vacant lots, fields, and open pine woods.

Photo credit: John Blair

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  • Aster (Symphyotrichum spp)

    • Several species of smooth-leaved true asters including Aster pilosus and Aster laevis.

    Fleabane (Erigeron spp)

    • Eastern daisy fleabane (Erigeron annuus)

    • Philadelphia fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)

    • Robin's plantain (Erigeron pulchellus)

    Flat-Topped Aster (Parasol whitetop) (Doellingeria umbellata)

    Wingstem (Verbesina alternifolia)

  • None that I am aware of

  • Native:

    Aster, Black-eyed Susan, Butterfly Weed, Obedient Plant, Orange Coneflower, Purple Coneflower, Snow-on-the-Mountain, Thistle

  • Item description

  • April-November. Several broods each year, eggs are laid in clusters. Last brood overwinters

  • Butterflies and Moths of North America. Butterfliesandmoths.org

    Brenda Dziedzic, Raising Butterflies in the Garden

    Heather Holm, Pollinators of Native Plants

    National Wildlife Federation. Nwf.org

    Xerces Society. Xerces.org