Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upper surface of male is lemon yellow with no markings. Female is yellow or white; outer edges of both wings with irregular black borders; upper forewing with dark spot in cell. Lower surface of hindwing of both sexes with 2 pink-edged silver spots.
Wing Span: 2 1/4 - 3 1/8 inches (5.7 - 8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol with rapid flight, searching for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on young leaves or flower buds of host plants; caterpillars eat leaves and rest on underside of leaf petioles.
Flight: Many flights year around in the Deep South; may have one flight in late summer in other southern states; immigrants to northern states in August or September usually do not reproduce.
Caterpillar Hosts: Cassia species in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from many different flowers with long tubes including cordia, bougainvilla, cardinal flower, hibiscus, lantana, and wild morning glory.
Habitat: Disturbed open areas including parks, yards, gardens, beaches, road edges, abandoned fields, scrub.
Range: Permanent resident from Argentina north to southern Texas and the Deep South. Regular visitor and occasional colonist in most of the eastern United States and the Southwest.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 5350 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 19, 2019
Submitted by: Jazzejan
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 09, 2019
Observation date: Sep 08, 2019
Submitted by: bsull150oz
Region: Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 09, 2019
Observation date: Sep 08, 2019
Submitted by: Cardinal52
Region: St. Johns County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Sep 07, 2019
Submitted by: k.d.stutzman
Region: Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Sep 05, 2019
Submitted by: GLG
Region: Walton County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Aug 05, 2019
Submitted by: Markus M
Region: Jalisco, Mexico
Verified by: Doug Taron
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Aug 30, 2019
Submitted by: MAJKLC
Region: Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Aug 29, 2019
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 02, 2019
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 03, 2019
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Sep 04, 2019
Observation date: Sep 02, 2019
Submitted by: susancbm
Region: White County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Aug 31, 2019
Submitted by: Kate McCain
Region: Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Aug 31, 2019
Submitted by: cblazo
Region: Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 02, 2019
Observation date: Sep 01, 2019
Submitted by: GLG
Region: Walton County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 01, 2019
Observation date: Aug 31, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 01, 2019
Observation date: Aug 31, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Georgetown County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 01, 2019
Observation date: Aug 30, 2019
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 31, 2019
Observation date: Aug 29, 2019
Submitted by: wlu
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2019
Observation date: Aug 29, 2019
Submitted by: Jrock-kodama
Region: Orange County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 31, 2019
Observation date: Aug 28, 2019
Submitted by: JRoper
Region: Williamson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Aug 29, 2019
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: Rschard@me.com
Region: Harris County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 29, 2019
Observation date: Aug 28, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Nelson
Region: Baxter County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 28, 2019
Observation date: Aug 25, 2019
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Colleton County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 28, 2019
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: WINGSaloftinKS
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
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