Bug Identifier
Cloudless Sulphur
Community identification

Cloudless Sulphur

Phoebis sennae

Order & Family
Lepidoptera: Pieridae
Size
Wingspan of 6 cm to 8 cm (2.4 to 3.1 inches)
See this bug in the Encyclopedia

Natural Habitat

Open spaces such as gardens, pastures, roadsides, and coastal beaches throughout the Americas

Diet & Feeding

Caterpillars feed on various Senna and Partridge Pea species; adults feed on nectar from tube-shaped flowers like Lantana and Bougainvillea

Behavior Patterns

Adults are fast, powerful fliers often seen migrating southward in massive numbers across the Southern United States during the late summer and fall

Risks & Benefits

Benefits the ecosystem as an important pollinator; caterpillars can occasionally defoliate ornamental Cassia plants but generally do not cause significant damage