Description: 24-36 mm. Males are almost pure orange on the dorsal side. Underside is orange with mottled brown markings - more pronounced in the winter forms. Female coloration varies from orange to almost white with brown spo on the forewing. They also have a row of brown spots on the forewing by the outer margin.

 

Habitat and Distribution: This is one of the most common and frequently seen butterflies in the Keys. It's seen all year long in every habitat. 

 

Host Plant: blackbead (Pithecellobium keyense), Cat's claw (Pithecellobium ungui-cati) and wild tamarind (Lysiloma latisiliquum)

 

Natural History: This is a fast flying butterfly that frequents the edhes of hardwood hammocks and salt marshes. They readily visit a wide variety of flowers such as Bidens (Bidens alba), firebush (Hemelia pattens) and many more.