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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 145 - 168 of 1453 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 30, 2021
Submitted by: 1tom2go
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 24, 2021
Observation date: Oct 16, 2021
Submitted by: beebee59
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Oct 19, 2021
Observation date: Sep 19, 2021
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 01, 2021
Observation date: Sep 13, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 20, 2021
Observation date: Sep 10, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Sep 10, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 13, 2021
Observation date: Aug 29, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 10, 2021
Observation date: Aug 19, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Aug 19, 2021
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 23, 2021
Observation date: Jul 07, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 29, 2021
Submitted by: Mayaich17
Region: Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 30, 2021
Observation date: Jun 11, 2021
Submitted by: Mayaich17
Region: Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2021
Observation date: Sep 11, 2010
Submitted by: pkondrashov
Region: Chariton County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: Eric Wood
Verified date: Jun 11, 2021
Observation date: May 24, 2021
Submitted by: Mayaich17
Region: Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 24, 2021
Observation date: May 08, 2021
Submitted by: KShell
Region: Dixie County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 09, 2021
Observation date: Mar 25, 2021
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
Observation date: Apr 05, 2008
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 16, 2021
Observation date: Apr 11, 2020
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Jan 27, 2021
Observation date: Oct 05, 2020
Submitted by: webielenberg
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Nov 28, 2020
Observation date: Oct 05, 2020
Submitted by: tom howe
Region: Blount County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: dbruce
Verified date: Nov 28, 2020
Observation date: Oct 20, 2020
Submitted by: Medina Molly
Region: Bandera County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Nov 08, 2020
Observation date: Mar 03, 2018
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 30, 2020
Observation date: Oct 16, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Oct 20, 2020
Observation date: Oct 07, 2020
Submitted by: Mayaich17
Region: Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 07, 2020
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