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.
Comments: NULL
Pollinator Week is June 20-26, 2022!
Butterflies and moths are accidental pollinators of many flowering plants. While most species do not have special structures to carry pollen, they do brush against pollen and transfer it to other flowers.
Did you know? The Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) flies close to the ground and uses its short proboscis to probe flowers of wild strawberry, white sweet clover, and other low-lying plants.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 457 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 24, 2020
Submitted by: Shearwater13
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 30, 2020
Observation date: Nov 24, 2020
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 29, 2020
Observation date: Aug 08, 2020
Submitted by: Janeal W. Thompson
Region: Prowers County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 17, 2020
Observation date: Nov 04, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 07, 2020
Observation date: Oct 09, 2020
Submitted by: Redheart Canyonlands
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 05, 2020
Observation date: Oct 18, 2020
Submitted by: Howard Nemerov
Region: Bastrop County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 05, 2020
Observation date: Oct 16, 2020
Submitted by: Jachan1
Region: Texas, United States, Webb County
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 21, 2020
Observation date: Aug 22, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 26, 2020
Observation date: Aug 20, 2020
Submitted by: Michael Weisensee
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 21, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2020
Observation date: Jul 19, 2020
Submitted by: Carmen Ferreiro
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 04, 2020
Observation date: Jul 10, 2020
Submitted by: Bob Nieman
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jul 10, 2020
Submitted by: Bob Nieman
Region: Eddy County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Jun 30, 2020
Submitted by: charlie plimpton
Region: Bell County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jul 06, 2020
Observation date: Feb 16, 2020
Submitted by: MarieKubin
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 16, 2020
Observation date: Nov 22, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 26, 2019
Observation date: Oct 29, 2019
Submitted by: butterflies4us
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 30, 2019
Observation date: Oct 18, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 19, 2019
Observation date: Oct 05, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 07, 2019
Observation date: Sep 27, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 30, 2019
Observation date: Sep 29, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 30, 2019
Observation date: Sep 24, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 29, 2019
Observation date: Sep 15, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 29, 2019
Observation date: Sep 24, 2019
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 29, 2019
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