Large Orange Sulphur
Phoebis agarithe (Boisduval, 1836)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upper surface of male bright orange with no markings. Two female forms, pink-white or yellow-orange. Underside forewing of both sexes with straight submarginal line. Two seasonal forms; winter form has heavier underside markings.
Wing Span: 2 1/4 - 3 3/8 inches (5.7 - 8.6 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars eat new leaves.
Flight: All year in south Texas and south Florida, strays north in mid- to late summer.
Caterpillar Hosts: Pithecellobium and Inga species in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of lantana, shepherd\'s needle, bougainvilla, rose periwinkle, turk's cap, and hibiscus.
Habitat: Open, tropical lowlands including gardens, pastures, road edges, trails, parks.
Range: Peru north to southern Texas and peninsular Florida. Rare stray to Colorado, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey.
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.
BAMONA Shop
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 530 verified sightings
Observation date: May 12, 2025
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Honolulu County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2025
Observation date: Feb 18, 2025
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 23, 2025
Observation date: Feb 12, 2025
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 22, 2025
Observation date: Nov 16, 2024
Submitted by: Nick Elf
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 21, 2025
Observation date: Feb 17, 2012
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 24, 2024
Observation date: Dec 06, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 08, 2024
Observation date: Sep 28, 2022
Submitted by: jackmcdonough
Region: Cape May County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 17, 2024
Observation date: Oct 24, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Nov 03, 2024
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 17, 2024
Observation date: Oct 05, 2024
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 10, 2024
Observation date: Sep 12, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: bp24kel
Region: Texas, Kimble County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2024
Observation date: Aug 26, 2024
Submitted by: Ssollowa
Region: Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 18, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Ssollowa
Region: Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 18, 2024
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2024
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 08, 2024
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: Lidia Martinez
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 01, 2024
Observation date: Jan 23, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 23, 2024
- 1 of 23
- next ›