Kricogonia lyside
Encyclopedia
Kricogonia lyside, commonly known as the Lyside Sulphur or Guayacan Sulphur, is a North
and South America
n butterfly
in the family Pieridae
. In seasons with heavy monsoons, this butterfly is seen in massive migrations which are frequent in Texas
but more rare in the southwest. It is also an occasional resident in southern Florida
.
), the Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), and the Statira Sulphur (Aphrissa statira
).
Queen Alexandra's Sulphur has more yellow on the underside of the fore wing and has a whitish spot in the center of the hind wing.
The Cloudless Sulphur is larger and is much more yellow.
The Statira Sulphur has a more yellowish upper side and the underside of the wings is pale greenish to white with females having light pinkish markings.
. In Florida there have been scattered sightings from July to October.
is highly variable. It ranges in color from grass green to blackish-green. It may have markings or may be unmarked. Marked individuals usually have dorsal and spiracular silvery stripes. It is the only caterpillar
to feed on plants in the family Zygophyllaceae
. Apparently they feed exclusively on the leaves of three Guaiacum
species: G. sanctum
and G. angustifolium
in Central and North America and G. officinale
in South America and the Caribbean. The chrysalis is a bluish-green color. The Lyside Sulphur can grow from egg to adult in as little as 13 days. It has 3 or more broods
per year in southern Texas.
North American
North American generally refers to an entity, people, group, or attribute of North America, especially of the United States and Canada together.-Culture:*North American English, a collective term used to describe American English and Canadian English...
and South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in the family Pieridae
Pieridae
The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing approximately 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and Asia. Most pierid butterflies are white, yellow or orange in coloration, often with black spots...
. In seasons with heavy monsoons, this butterfly is seen in massive migrations which are frequent in Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
but more rare in the southwest. It is also an occasional resident in southern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
.
Description
The Lyside Sulphur is variable. The upper side of the wings is pale yellow, usually with a black bar on the leading edge of the hind wing and a bright yellow patch near the base of the fore wing. Some individuals also have black borders along the costa and apex of the fore wing. The underside of the wings varies from a greenish color to bright yellow to almost white. Greener individuals have a whitish vein in the center of the hind wing and a bright yellow fore wing basal patch. It has a wingspan of 3.8 to 6 cm (1.5 to 2.4 in).Similar species
Similar species in the Lyside Sulphur's range include Queen Alexandra's Sulphur (Colias alexandraColias alexandra
The Queen Alexandra's Sulphur, Alexandra Sulphur, or Ultraviolet Sulfur is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America...
), the Cloudless Sulphur (Phoebis sennae), and the Statira Sulphur (Aphrissa statira
Aphrissa statira
The Statira Sulphur, Aphrissa statira, is a species of lepidoptera in the family Pieridae.-Description:Aphrissa statira have a wingspan of about to ....
).
Queen Alexandra's Sulphur has more yellow on the underside of the fore wing and has a whitish spot in the center of the hind wing.
The Cloudless Sulphur is larger and is much more yellow.
The Statira Sulphur has a more yellowish upper side and the underside of the wings is pale greenish to white with females having light pinkish markings.
Flight
This butterfly is seen almost all year in southern Texas and is seen from early July to mid November in ArizonaArizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. In Florida there have been scattered sightings from July to October.
Life cycle
The larvaLarva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
is highly variable. It ranges in color from grass green to blackish-green. It may have markings or may be unmarked. Marked individuals usually have dorsal and spiracular silvery stripes. It is the only caterpillar
Caterpillar
Caterpillars are the larval form of members of the order Lepidoptera . They are mostly herbivorous in food habit, although some species are insectivorous. Caterpillars are voracious feeders and many of them are considered to be pests in agriculture...
to feed on plants in the family Zygophyllaceae
Zygophyllaceae
The Zygophyllaceae is a family of flowering plants that contains the bean-caper and caltrop. It includes around 285 species in 22 genera.In the APG III system of classification, the families Zygophyllaceae and Krameriaceae compose the order Zygophyllales...
. Apparently they feed exclusively on the leaves of three Guaiacum
Guaiacum
Guaiacum, sometimes spelled Guajacum, is a genus of flowering plants in the caltrop family Zygophyllaceae. It contains five species of slow-growing shrubs and trees, reaching a height of approximately but are usually less than half of that...
species: G. sanctum
Guaiacum sanctum
Guaiacum sanctum, commonly known as Holywood or Holywood Lignum-vitae, is a species of flowering plant in the creosote bush family, Zygophyllaceae. It ranges from southern Florida in the United States and the Bahamas south to Central America and the Greater Antilles...
and G. angustifolium
Guaiacum angustifolium
Guaiacum angustifolium is a species of flowering plant in the caltrop family, Zygophyllaceae. Common names include Texas Guaiacum, Texas Lignum-vitae, Soapbush and Guayacán. It is native to southern and western Texas in the United States and northern Mexico...
in Central and North America and G. officinale
Guaiacum officinale
Guaiacum officinale, commonly known as Roughbark Lignum-vitae, is a species of tree in the caltrop family, Zygophyllaceae, that is native to the Caribbean and the northern coast of South America.-Description:...
in South America and the Caribbean. The chrysalis is a bluish-green color. The Lyside Sulphur can grow from egg to adult in as little as 13 days. It has 3 or more broods
Offspring
In biology, offspring is the product of reproduction, of a new organism produced by one or more parents.Collective offspring may be known as a brood or progeny in a more general way...
per year in southern Texas.