Aphrissa statira, Statira Sulphur
All photographs are copywrited property. Please contact us for permission to use.
Freshly emerged male
Description: 30-35 mm. Males are bright lemmon yellow in color with pale yellow scaling on the dorsal outermargin of hindwing and forewing. Females vary in color from yellow to pale cream color with a black dot in the center of the forewing and a black tip on the forewing. Undersides are yellow and the antennae are pink with bright pink scaling on the head and thorax. Males are easily confused with Cloudless Sulphurs in flight.
Habitat and Distribution: While this species is abundant in costal habitats of Southern Florida, it only occasionally is seen in Key Largo. This species is considered a stray to the Keys.
Host Plant: Coin Vine (Dalbergia ecastophyllum)
Natural History: This species flies very strong and fast but commonly visits flowers such as firebush (Hemilia pattens). We live rather far inland from the coast in Broward County and planted a coinvine in our yard. Within a few days of planting this plant in our yard, statira's showed up and have never left! They are by far the most abundant "backyard" bug we have as individuals can be seen all day long througout the entire year
Final instar larva
Final instar larva
Chrysalis
Freshly emerged female
Freshly emerged male
Flip Through
Species Pages
Chrysalis