Clouded Sulphur

Phoebis sennae (Linnaeus)

Wingspan: 1 1/2 – 2 3/4″. Overall lemon-yellow. Above: black borders on wings-in males black border is solid, in females the border is interspersed with light markings. Below: 1-2 spots (one silver) ringed in red and a row of dark spots along wing border. Female has 2 forms: yellow form with uneven black edging enclosing yellow spots, and a white form, greenish-white rather than yellow. Spring and fall forms are smaller with less conspicuous markings.

• Occurs over most of North America. Eggs laid singly on host; They spend winters in the southern region of the United States as adults. Mimics Orange Sulfur.

• Young males gather in mud puddles (puddling). Sulphurs glide close to the ground and perch with their wings closed.

• The word butterfly may come from the Sulphurs because of their creamy buttery color.

Habitat: Open Meadow and fields. The first migrant to be seen in the spring (May) and the last to leave in the fall (October).

Larval food plants: Clovers (Trifolium), Milkweed (Asclepias)

Adult food: Butterflybush (Buddleia davidii), Lantana (Lantana camara), Lupine (Lupinus perinnis)