Cloudless Sulphur
Welcome to this week’s Wildlife of the Week!
Our species this week is the Cloudless Sulphur!
Phoebis sennae
Our Wildlife of the Week is the brightly colored Cloudless Sulphur. This vibrant yellow butterfly, about 1.5 inches long, is everywhere on the refuge now, flitting from flower to flower.
Look for their distinctive bright yellow or light golden wings among the green vegetation. Males typically display a more saturated hue compared to the lighter tones of females. The wing edges might reveal a faint dark border.
In flight, their rapid and darting movements are notable. They prefer open, sunny areas with abundant legumes and flowers for nectar, their primary diet. They can be observed migrating, particularly in the fall, traveling great distances from the northern parts of their range to warmer southern locales.
They have a short 2-4 week lifespan, so get out now to spot them on the refuge!
(Cloudless Sulphur on cardinal flower photo by Tom Ress, taken on Rockhouse Road).