Cloudless Sulphur
Phoebis sennae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upper surface of male is lemon yellow with no markings. Female is yellow or white; outer edges of both wings with irregular black borders; upper forewing with dark spot in cell. Lower surface of hindwing of both sexes with 2 pink-edged silver spots.
Wing Span: 2 1/4 - 3 1/8 inches (5.7 - 8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol with rapid flight, searching for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on young leaves or flower buds of host plants; caterpillars eat leaves and rest on underside of leaf petioles.
Flight: Many flights year around in the Deep South; may have one flight in late summer in other southern states; immigrants to northern states in August or September usually do not reproduce.
Caterpillar Hosts: Cassia species in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from many different flowers with long tubes including cordia, bougainvilla, cardinal flower, hibiscus, lantana, and wild morning glory.
Habitat: Disturbed open areas including parks, yards, gardens, beaches, road edges, abandoned fields, scrub.
Range: Permanent resident from Argentina north to southern Texas and the Deep South. Regular visitor and occasional colonist in most of the eastern United States and the Southwest.
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 97 - 120 of 5992 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 08, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: Elaine Fisher
Region: Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Oct 07, 2022
Submitted by: John LeBlanc
Region: Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Apr 14, 2024
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 17, 2024
Observation date: Mar 13, 2024
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 15, 2024
Observation date: Sep 27, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Trigg County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Mar 15, 2024
Observation date: Feb 28, 2024
Submitted by: Mohr824
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 11, 2024
Observation date: Feb 09, 2024
Submitted by: Mohr824
Region: DeSoto County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 11, 2024
Observation date: Mar 06, 2024
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Mar 07, 2024
Observation date: Sep 21, 2023
Submitted by: sirabandeh
Region: DeKalb County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Mar 02, 2024
Observation date: Feb 24, 2024
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Alachua County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 26, 2024
Observation date: Feb 13, 2024
Submitted by: marilynne
Region: Palm Beach County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 21, 2024
Observation date: Feb 08, 2024
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 08, 2024
Observation date: Jan 05, 2024
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 31, 2024
Observation date: Oct 03, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Oct 01, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Sep 30, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 24, 2024
Observation date: Nov 12, 2021
Submitted by: Palmiera
Region: Beaufort County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 22, 2024
Observation date: Nov 15, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 28, 2023
Observation date: Nov 06, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Dec 08, 2023
Submitted by: John Saba
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Dec 10, 2023
Observation date: Nov 29, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 29, 2023
Observation date: Nov 29, 2023
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Nov 29, 2023
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