Little Yellow or Little Sulphur Butterfly - Eurema lisa

Phylum: Arthropoda - Class: Insecta - Order: Lepidoptera - Family: Pieridae

In the, USA butterflies that are called 'Yellows' in Europe are also commonly referred to as 'Sulphurs' (or 'Sulfurs'). The Little Sulphur is also referred to as the Little Yellow, therefore, but in either case there can be no cause for argument over the adjective 'Little'.

The wingspan ranges from 2.5 to 3.5cm, and when this low-flying butterfly alights on pale flowers it is not at all easy to spot.

Distribution

Breeding throughout central America and the southern states of the USA, with some adults migrating through the central states of the USA, this rather pallid butterfly also occurs the West Indies including Barbados, where this photograph was taken in late April.

Lifecycle

The larval foodplants are Cassia (senna) species in the family Fabaceae, and the caterpillars, which emerge from white eggs, are green with a pale stripe along each side.

In the tropical climate of the Carribbean these butterflies can be seen all through the year; the adults fly weakly and live in rough grassland, where they take nectar from various kinds of daisies (Asteraceae).

Studying butterflies and moths...