Aphrissa orbis

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Orbed sulphur
Butterflies in the family Pieridae
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Aphrissa
Species:
A. orbis
Binomial name
Aphrissa orbis
(Poey, 1832)[1]
Synonyms
  • Callidryas orbis Poey, 1832
  • Phoebis orbis

Aphrissa orbis, the orbed sulphur, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is native to Hispaniola and Cuba but is a very rare stray to Florida. The habitat consists of tropical moist forests above 500 meters.[2]

The wingspan is 63–76 mm (2.5–3.0 in). The upper surface of the male forewings is pale lemon yellow with a large orange patch on the basal third. The female upper surface is deep ochre, the underside of the hindwing with a large brown patch. There are multiple generations per year on Cuba and Hispaniola. They feed on flower nectar of various flowers, including Ageratum conyzoides, Antigonon leptotus and Hibiscus species.[2]

The larvae feed on Poinciana pulcherrima.[2]

Subspecies[edit]

The following subspecies are recognised:[1]

  • Aphrissa orbis orbis (Cuba)
  • Aphrissa orbis browni (Munroe, 1947) (Haiti)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Aphrissa, Site of Markku Savela
  2. ^ a b c Butterflies and Moths of North America