Orange-barred Sulphur
Common NameOrange-barred Sulphur
Scientific NamePhoebis philea
FamilyPieridae
SubfamilyColiadinae
Wingspan (mm)75
Primary Colorsyellow, orange
HabitatTropical and subtropical open woodlands, forest edges, gardens, clearings
Geographic RangeSouthern United States (Florida, Texas), Mexico, Central America, South America, West Indies
Host PlantsSenna species (e.g., Senna alata, Senna occidentalis)
Flight PeriodYear-round in tropical regions; multiple broods. Migratory into temperate zones, often seen in late summer and fall.
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis. Eggs are laid on host plants, hatching into green caterpillars. The caterpillars feed and grow, then pupate into a chrysalis (a brown chrysalis is visible next to the adult in the image) before emerging as an adult butterfly.
Identification TipsIdentify by its large size and bright yellow wings. Males typically have a distinctive orange bar on the upperside of the forewing, while females are usually entirely yellow or whitish. The underside often shows faint spotting and a robust body.
Description
A large, robust butterfly with bright yellow wings. The underside, as seen in the image, is mostly solid yellow with faint brownish dusting and small, white-centered black spots on the hindwings.
