Cloudless Sulphur - Phoebis sennae
Cloudless Sulphur - Phoebis sennae - is one of several native, large, brightly colored yellow butterflies much in evidence locally in late summer and early fall. This particular species is very common in the southeastern U.S. (from Argentina north), invading northward every year, sometimes reaching Canada by late summer (though this can very from year to year). Also occasional visitor to the American Southwest. Habitats mainly disturbed open areas including parks, yards, gardens, beaches, road edges, abandoned fields, and scrub. Flight is strong and rapid and is often high off the ground. They perch with their wings closed, only showing their upper wings in flight. Males patrol with rapid flight, searching for receptive females. Flies most of the year in the deep south (3-4 broods, with 1-2 broods elsewhere). Above the male is bright yellow while the female is greenish white, bright yellow, or pinkish orange. On the wings below - visible when at rest - both sexes have cell-end spots on the forewing and hindwing, often the only marking on males. Females show a characteristic broken line leading to the tip of the forewing. Larval foodplants are Cassia species in the pea family (Fabaceae). Adults take nectar from many different flowers with long tubes including cordia, bougainvilla, cardinal flower, hibiscus, lantana, and wild morning glory. Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman, Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America. www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Phoebis-sennae bugguide.net/node/view/501
Cloudless Sulphur - Phoebis sennae
Cloudless Sulphur - Phoebis sennae - is one of several native, large, brightly colored yellow butterflies much in evidence locally in late summer and early fall. This particular species is very common in the southeastern U.S. (from Argentina north), invading northward every year, sometimes reaching Canada by late summer (though this can very from year to year). Also occasional visitor to the American Southwest. Habitats mainly disturbed open areas including parks, yards, gardens, beaches, road edges, abandoned fields, and scrub. Flight is strong and rapid and is often high off the ground. They perch with their wings closed, only showing their upper wings in flight. Males patrol with rapid flight, searching for receptive females. Flies most of the year in the deep south (3-4 broods, with 1-2 broods elsewhere). Above the male is bright yellow while the female is greenish white, bright yellow, or pinkish orange. On the wings below - visible when at rest - both sexes have cell-end spots on the forewing and hindwing, often the only marking on males. Females show a characteristic broken line leading to the tip of the forewing. Larval foodplants are Cassia species in the pea family (Fabaceae). Adults take nectar from many different flowers with long tubes including cordia, bougainvilla, cardinal flower, hibiscus, lantana, and wild morning glory. Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman, Kaufman Field Guide to Butterflies of North America. www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Phoebis-sennae bugguide.net/node/view/501