Pearl Crescent is abundant in N.C. and often overlooked because it's so common and often dull.

Pearls are highly variable. Similar species to look out for include the Silvery Checkerspot (mountains and piedmont), the recently described Mimic Crescent (mountains), which is sometimes considered to be a race of Northern Crescent, and Phaon Crescent (only along the immediate coast).

Male.

Durham Co., NC 8/17/03.

Male.

Granville Co., NC 5/1/2011.

Beneath, females tend to have more contrasting white spots, while males are more uniformly tawny.

Female.

Granville Co., NC 5/1/2011.

Female.

Granville Co., NC 4/29/2012.

Female.

Granville Co., NC 4/29/2012.

Female.

Granville Co., NC 4/29/2012.

Caterpillar.

Haywood Co., NC 5/10/08.

Male.

Chatham Co., NC 9/20/08.

Note the pearly white crescent on the trailing edge of the hindwing, which gives the species its name. The rare Tawny Crescent of the mountains lacks the pearl mark and the dark area surrounding it. The Mimic Crescent male has orange on the underside of the antennal clubs -- not that this Pearl has orange on the top side of the antennal clubs only.

Male.

Person Co., NC 6/13/06.

Male, Granville Co., NC 4/27/08.

Female, Durham Co., NC 6/24/07.

Female, missing one antenna.

Durham Co., NC 8/10/08.

This striking female is ovipositing on Aster (Symphyotrichum) concolor.

Sandhills Gamelands, Scotland Co., NC, 13 April 2002.

Sandhills Gamelands, Scotland Co., NC, 13 April 2002.

A more typical example. Pearl Crescents were swarming on Daisy-Fleabane (Erigeron sp.) this day.

Carteret Co., NC, 20 April 2002.

Male.

Tyrrell Co., NC, 9 July 2002.