Pearl crescent vs Variegated fritillary

These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a pearl crescent from a variegated fritillary, and whether either one bites or stings.

≠The key differences

Pearl crescent is smaller and has a more checkered pattern on the underside; variegated fritillary is more uniformly orange with broader wings.

	Pearl crescent	Variegated fritillary
To humans	Non-toxic	Non-toxic
Size	25-38 mm wingspan	About 45-75 mm wingspan
Colours	Orange, Black, Pale cream, Brown	Orange, Dark brown, Cream, Black
Family	Nymphalidae	Nymphalidae
Habitat	Open fields, meadows, roadsides, weedy clearings and disturbed sites where asters grow	Open sunny places: fields, meadows, roadsides, gardens, open woodland edges and disturbed areas
Range	Widespread in eastern and central North America, from southern Canada through the United States and into parts of Mexico	Resident from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America into South America; spreads north each summer across much of the United States and occasionally into southern Canada
Active	Multiple broods from spring through fall (May to October in much of its range); active during daylight hours	Spring through fall (longest in southern regions); active during daylight, especially late morning to afternoon
Pest?	No	No

Small wingspan (25-38 mm) with orange upperwings and bold dark margins and markings
Hindwing underside paler with a row of small pale crescent-shaped spots near the margin
Found in open, weedy habitats where asters grow; often seen fluttering low over flowers
Compare location and subtle wing-pattern details to separate from similar crescent species

Bright orange upperwings with bold dark markings and scalloped wing margins
Mottled underside of hindwing with a mix of orange, brown and cream (the 'variegated' look)
Smaller submarginal spots and less-silvery underside compared with some other fritillaries

Pearl crescent is smaller and has a more checkered pattern on the underside; variegated fritillary is more uniformly orange with broader wings.

Pearl crescent: Non-toxic. Variegated fritillary: Non-toxic. Pearl crescents are harmless to people. Harmless to people.

Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.