Eurema proterpia, the tailed orange, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae.
| Eurema proterpia | |
|---|---|
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| In Jamaica | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Genus: | Eurema |
| Species: | E. proterpia
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| Binomial name | |
| Eurema proterpia (Fabricius, 1775)
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| Synonyms | |
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Description
editThe upperside of the wings is orange with a variable amount of black along the forewing costa.[1] The wing veins are lightly marked with black in summer individuals, and winter individuals have no black veins. Males reflect UV light on their upper sides, and some females can be white.[2] The underside of the wings varies depending on the season. Summer individuals are yellow orange with the hindwing slightly pointed. Winter individuals are brown with darker brown markings with the hindwing being much more pointed.[1] The wingspan measures 1+1⁄4 to 1+3⁄4 inches (32–44 mm).[3]
Similar species
editThe only similar species in the tailed orange's range is the sleepy orange (Eurema nicippe).
The sleepy orange has a black forewing cell spot on the upperside, the upperside of the hindwing has a black marginal border, and the hindwing is not pointed.[1]
Habitat
editThe tailed orange lives in a variety of open habitats such as open woodlands, deserts and subtropical habitats.[2][3]
Flight
editThis species may be found from mid-July to early January in Arizona, from August to November in Texas, and all year round in Mexico.[2][3]
Life cycle
editMales patrol all day in search of females.[2] The larva is bright yellow green with a yellow lateral stripe.[4]
Host plants
editHost plants of the tailed orange include:
- Cassia texana
- Chamaecrista species
- Desmodium species
- Prosopis reptans
- Senna chamaecrista[2][3][4]
References
edit- ^ a b c Jim P. Brock and Kenn Kaufman (2003). Butterflies of North America. Houghton Mifflin, New York, NY. ISBN 0-618-15312-8
- ^ a b c d e James A. Scott (1986). The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, CA. ISBN 0-8047-2013-4
- ^ a b c d Bob Stewart, Priscilla Brodkin and Hank Brodkin (2001). Butterflies of Arizona. West Coast Lady Press. ISBN 0-9663072-1-6
- ^ a b Thomas J. Allen, Jim P. Brock and Jeffrey Glassberg (2005). Caterpillars in the Field and Garden. Oxford University Press, New York, NY. ISBN 978-0-19-514987-6
- F. Martin Brown and Bernard Heineman, Jamaica and its Butterflies (E. W. Classey, London 1972), plate VI