Genus Zerene - Dogfaces

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Numbers · Identification · Range · Habitat · Food · Internet References

California Dogface, Colias eurydice - Zerene eurydice - female

Southern Dogface or Clouded Sulphur? - Zerene cesonia

Colias (Zerene) cesonia - Zerene cesonia

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Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies (excluding skippers))

Family Pieridae (Whites, Sulphurs, Yellows)

Subfamily Coliadinae (Sulphurs and Yellows)

Genus Zerene (Dogfaces)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

formerly included in the genus Colias

Numbers

2 species in North America, the Southern Dogface (Z. cesonia) and the California Dogface (Z. eurydice)

Identification

pattern of the upper forewing resembles a yellow "dog face" bordered by black, with a black circle forming the eye

Range

resident in California, Texas, and Florida; regular migrant across southern two-thirds of United States, with occasional strays recorded as far north as central Canada and the Great Lakes

Habitat

open areas such as roadsides and pastures

Food

larvae feed on legumes

Internet References

live adult images of Z. cesonia (Jeffrey Pippen, Texas, courtesy of Duke U.)

pinned adult images plus other info on Z. eurydice (nearctica.com)

Contributed by Robin McLeod on 14 August, 2005 - 6:10pm

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