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 25 - 48 of 1430 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 15, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Dec 12, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 02, 2023
Observation date: Sep 13, 2023
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 16, 2023
Observation date: Apr 02, 2022
Submitted by: Ken Cheeks
Region: Richmond County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Nov 28, 2017
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Pasco County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 13, 2023
Observation date: Feb 25, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 23, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 15, 2023
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 16, 2023
Observation date: Jul 05, 2023
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 05, 2023
Submitted by: Tdloyd
Region: Sumner County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Wilson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 17, 2023
Observation date: Sep 24, 2022
Submitted by: Barometz
Region: Marion County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 17, 2023
Observation date: May 12, 2023
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2023
Observation date: Mar 26, 2023
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 21, 2023
Observation date: Feb 12, 2023
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 21, 2023
Observation date: Apr 04, 2023
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 08, 2023
Observation date: Feb 05, 2023
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 08, 2023
Observation date: Nov 05, 2017
Submitted by: pasicam
Region: Mexico
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 18, 2023
Observation date: Jan 12, 2023
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 12, 2023
Observation date: Oct 27, 2022
Submitted by: mfernandabarraza
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 02, 2023
Observation date: Jul 19, 2022
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 13, 2022
Observation date: Dec 11, 2022
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
Observation date: Nov 27, 2022
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 12, 2022
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