Cloudless Sulphur
Common NameCloudless Sulphur
Scientific NamePhoebis sennae
FamilyPieridae
SubfamilyColiadinae
Wingspan (mm)75
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorsyellow, white
HabitatOpen fields, gardens, roadsides, forest edges, coastal areas
Geographic RangeSouthern United States, Mexico, Central America, Caribbean, South America; migrates north into temperate North America
Host PlantsSenna, Partridge Pea, Sicklepod, Coffee Senna
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical areas; multiple broods from spring to fall (e.g., March to November) in temperate regions
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae are green with a yellow stripe, feeding on legumes. Pupae are green, resembling a leaf. Multiple generations occur annually.
Identification TipsMales are uniformly bright yellow. Females can be yellow or white, sometimes with a faint dark spot or margin on the forewing. The underside of the hindwing often features a small, distinctive silver spot ringed with pink or brown. Its strong, fast flight is also characteristic.
Description
A medium-sized to large butterfly, typically bright yellow in males, while females can be yellow or white, sometimes with faint dark markings on the forewing margin. The underside of the hindwing often has a small silver spot ringed with pink.
