Southern Dogface
Zerene cesonia (Stoll, 1790)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upperside forewings of both sexes have yellow "dog's head" surrounded by black. "Eye" does not touch black border. Female similar, with duller, more diffuse black areas and 2 seasonal forms: underside hindwing of wet season "summer" form is yellow; that of dry season "winter" form is mottled with black and pink.
Wing Span: 2 1/8 - 3 inches (5.4 - 7.6 cm).
Life History: Males patrol open areas for females. Eggs are laid on the undersides of terminal leaves of host plants. Adults overwinter in reproductive arrest.
Flight: Three flights in the southern states from May-June, July-August, and September-April. Northern colonists have one generation per year, or do not reproduce at all.
Caterpillar Hosts: Small-leaved plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including alfalfa (Medicago sativa); prairie clovers, indigo (Dalea), and clover (Trifolium) species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including alfalfa, coreopsis, houstonia, and verbena.
Habitat: Dry, open areas such as short-grass prairie hills, scrub oak groves, open woodland, washes, road edges.
Range: Resident in South America north to southern Texas and peninsular Florida. Stray or temporary resident from central California northeast through the Great Lakes area and all the eastern states.
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 1248 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 21, 2019
Submitted by: Aggielacie
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 24, 2019
Observation date: Mar 21, 2019
Submitted by: Aggielacie
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 24, 2019
Observation date: Feb 27, 2019
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Texas, Kleberg County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 03, 2019
Observation date: Nov 24, 2018
Submitted by: Allen Vajdos
Region: Texas, McMullen County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Dec 01, 2018
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: rkdale
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 30, 2018
Observation date: Nov 05, 2018
Submitted by: rkdale
Region: Denton County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 30, 2018
Observation date: Aug 28, 2014
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 26, 2018
Observation date: Jun 07, 2008
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Emanuel County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 26, 2018
Observation date: Jun 07, 2008
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Emanuel County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 26, 2018
Observation date: Sep 07, 2013
Submitted by: Pierre Howard
Region: Bibb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Nov 26, 2018
Observation date: Nov 06, 2018
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 21, 2018
Observation date: Nov 02, 2018
Submitted by: marley
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 13, 2018
Observation date: Nov 06, 2018
Submitted by: rdubtx
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 10, 2018
Observation date: Oct 13, 2018
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 15, 2018
Observation date: Oct 13, 2018
Submitted by: loyallonghorn
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 15, 2018
Observation date: Sep 17, 2018
Submitted by: rob77897@gmail.com
Region: Taylor County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 13, 2018
Observation date: Oct 01, 2018
Submitted by: HSVGardenGirl
Region: Saline County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 09, 2018
Observation date: Oct 05, 2018
Submitted by: Janerushmartin
Region: Texas, Medina County, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 08, 2018
Observation date: Oct 06, 2018
Submitted by: jflutterby
Region: Hamilton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Oct 07, 2018
Observation date: Oct 03, 2018
Submitted by: shirleyann
Region: Childress County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Oct 06, 2018
Observation date: Sep 17, 2018
Submitted by: bauersteven
Region: Bourbon County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Sep 18, 2018
Observation date: Aug 22, 2018
Submitted by: Littlewing
Region: Crawford County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 25, 2018
Observation date: Nov 02, 2016
Submitted by: Kevin Groeneweg
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 22, 2018
Observation date: Oct 14, 2011
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Jasper County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Aug 19, 2018
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