Insect
Large Orange Sulphur
Phoebis agaritheLarge orange sulphurs are powerful, fast-flying butterflies that animate tropical and subtropical landscapes with vivid flashes of deep apricot and bright yellow. Males frequently gather in communal mud-puddling congregations along damp riverbanks to sip essential mineral salts, while females disperse widely searching for legume host plants. During the hottest midday hours, adults roost beneath broad leaves, folding their wings tightly to reveal cryptic, dead-leaf patterns on their undersides.
PollinatorColorfulDiurnal
—observations
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—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyFlower nectar, Mud minerals, Legume foliage
Predators
- Birds
- Spiders
- Dragonflies
ThreatsPesticide application, severe winter freezes, and loss of native host plants
HabitatsOpen tropical lowlands, gardens, pastures, roadsides, forest edges, and coastal scrub
Life span2–4 weeks (as adult butterfly)
Classification
- FamilyPieridae
- SpeciesPhoebis agarithe
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look for males gathering around damp sandy roads or mud puddles during sunny mornings.
- Photography: Approach quietly while an adult is actively nectaring on deep blossoms like lantana or hibiscus.
- Gardening: Plant native legume trees such as pithecellobium or senna to encourage breeding.
Frequent Companion Anne Toal from US / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Melissa McMasters, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Close Relative Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Same Family no rights reserved, uploaded by Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago · cc0
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Mystic Meadows
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