Detailed information on Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae)

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lightyellow

Ponte Vedra Beach, FL | November 2017 | Positive

I think these have surprisingly long tongues because they nectar at my firespikes and are the only butterflies to do so (even the zebra longwings, which can reach firebushes, do not).
Love their bright chartreuse color and year-round presence in my area, always a nice photo op when they visit a purple flower.

I have a Christmas cassia now and hopefully will get some cats soon c:

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weRgroot

New Port Richey, FL (Zone 9b) | May 2017 | Neutral

Love the butterfly; the caterpillar, not so much. They love cassia plants.

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C_A_Ivy

Barling, AR (Zone 7b) | December 2013 | Neutral

YELLOW VS. GREEN CATS
Caterpillars are either green or yellow. The green version is from eating the leaves of the host plant whereas the yellow larva occurs when the caterpillar consumes the yellow flower buds of the host plant.

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steadycam3

Houston Heights, TX (Zone 9a) | January 2011 | Positive

In Texas, I have observed the sulphurs nectaring on the abundant wild cedar sage.

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SusanLouise

Lincoln, NE (Zone 5b) | January 2009 | Positive

This is my favorite butterfly...a bright neon lemon-lime light fluttering in our gardens just brightened my days. We only had one last year...and it stayed til November 4th, just before our hard freeze. This year I'm getting a Cassia 'hebecarpa' plant to make sure we have many more this year!

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nick89

Tallahassee, FL (Zone 8b) | March 2007 | Positive

Huge yellow butterflies that are very common. They can be seen year-around in northern Florida, even coming out on warmer winter days.

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Magpye

NW Qtr, AR (Zone 6a) | August 2006 | Neutral

Wing span: 2 1/4 - 3 1/8 inches (5.7 - 8 cm).

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.

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... read more

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aprilwillis

Missouri City, TX (Zone 9a) | July 2006 | Positive

These guys pretty much stay on my cassia alata, their host plant. They don't do all that much damage and are really lovely butterflies!

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okus

(Zone 8b) | July 2006 | Neutral

Aslo known as the Cloudless Giant Sulphur

Cloudless Sulphur

Phoebissennae

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