Observation date: October 29, 2019
Submitted by: butterflies4us
Specimen type: Photograph
Observation notes: We are quite familiar with Cloudless Sulphurs. When we took pictures of this butterfly today, it seemed different than our normal Cloudless. One of our books states that the Large Orange Sulphur is a "very rare stray" in San Diego County. The straight line on the forewings, characteristic of the Large Orange, makes us think this is what we have. Can this be confirmed? Thanks!
Status: Temporary Colonist
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: October 30, 2019
Coordinator notes: Until 2008, only about 5 Large Orange Sulphurs had ever been collected in California so the book was probably right when printed, but now people are growing that butterflies hostplants in their yard and this tropical butterfly from southern Baja California has become at least transiently established and common in some area. I went to San Clemente in Orange County last September 24th and I saw about 30 or more in 3 1/2 hours from 10:30 to @ PM when they fly. Yours is a male.-Ken Davenport
