Sleepy Orange

Sleepy Orange

Eurema nicippe
WHITE AND SULPHUR FAMILY (Pieridae)

Click on each photo thumbnail to enlarge.

This orange butterfly has a wingspan of approximately 1 3/4 inches. Individuals are bright orange with wide black borders on the dorsal side of the wings. Ventrally, the wings are yellow-orange with reddish-brown markings. Females have more pinkish markings on the underside of the hindwing than males. The antennae are brown and the legs are straw-colored. The mature caterpillar is approximately 1 inch in length. It is slender, green and downy with white, yellow and black side stripes.

 

This uncommon butterfly is an emigrant from the south which usually appears in late summer. It usually flies low close to vegetation, but It can sometimes be seen resting on vegetation and also mineralizing at mud puddles. Photos A,B and C were taken at Fontenelle Forest. D and E were taken at Neale Woods.

 

The larvae eat the leaves of Wild Senna and Partridge Pea.

 

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