Size
Wing span: 2 1/4 - 3 3/8 inches (5.7 - 8.6 cm).
Identification
Upper surface of male bright orange with no markings. Two female forms, pink-white or yellow-orange. Underside forewing of both sexes with straight submarginal line. Two seasonal forms; winter form has heavier underside markings.
Caterpillar is green with a pale yellow line on the sides. Lacks the short spikes of Phoebis pilea and Phoebis sennae.
Range
Peru north to southern Texas and peninsular Florida. Rare stray to Colorado, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey.
Habitat
Open, tropical lowlands including gardens, pastures, road edges, trails, parks.
Season
Flies all year in south Texas and south Florida, strays north in mid- to late summer
Food
Caterpillar hosts: Pithecellobium, Inga, (and Cassia?) species in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult food: Nectar from many different flowers.
Print References
Glassberg, p. 60, plates 11, 12
(1)
Brock and Kaufman, pp. 74-75
(2)
Scott, #51, pp. 204-205, color plates 12, 13
(3)
Allen et al., pp. 44-45--photo of caterpillar
(4)
Minno et al., pp. 170 - 171, p.79
(5)
