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Project Noah Nature School
Phoebis sennae
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).
Disturbed open areas including parks, yards, gardens, beaches, road edges, abandoned fields, scrub. 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. 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. This one was photographed nectaring on a zinnia in east-central Georgia (Burke County).
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.
Spotted on Aug 26, 2012
Submitted on Mar 17, 2013
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