Species Detail

Tailed Orange

Pyrisitia proterpia (Fabricius, 1775)

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Attributes of Pyrisitia proterpia

Family: Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)

Subfamily: Sulphurs (Coliadinae)

Identification: Two sexual and two seasonal forms. Upperside orange; tip of forewing squared off. Male with black forewing costa; females with black forewing costa, apex, and outer margin. Winter (dry-season) form with tail-like projections on hindwing; summer (wet-season) form without tails.

Life history: Males patrol for females on flats and in gullies. The dry-season form is non-reproductive until the onset of the rainy season.

Flight: August-November in Texas; throughout the year in the tropics.

Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches (4.5 - 5.7 cm).

Caterpillar hosts: In Texas, mesquite (Prosopis) and senna (Cassia) species; Desmodium in the tropics (all in the pea family [Fabaceae]).

Adult food: Nectar from many species of flowers.

Habitat: Desert and subtropical open and disturbed areas including scrub, pastures, forest edges.

Range: Peru north to Mexico; Greater Antilles; strays to southern Texas, southwest New Mexico, and southeast Arizona; rarely to Nebraska and Kansas.

Conservation: Not usually required.

NatureServe Global Status: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Management needs: None reported.