Wing span: 2.6-3.6 cm.

Flight time: It has multiple, overlapping broods from early April through late-October.

Status: Breeding resident.

Distinguishing features: The wings above have and orange background with brown markings on the margins. Below the hindwing is largely clear with a brown margin containing an ivory crescent. The cool-weather form marcia and females are darker below.

Distribution and habitat: The pearl crescent is the most abundant nymphalid in Iowa, being found across the entire state from a wide variety of natural and disturbed habitats including old fields, parks, woodland edges, pastures, roadsides, open forests, and prairies.

Natural History: Larvae consume asters. Populations are often large, and dozen of individuals can be commonly found congregating around single puddles. Males are aggressive courters and have been observed attempting to mate with other species, even in other families!