Phoebis sennae

Family

Pieridae

Genus

Phoebis

Specie

sennae

Forewing Length

29-36 mm

Range

Southern United States to Argentina, with various Antillean Subspecies.

Host Plant

Cassia biflora, C. obtusifolia (Caesalpinaceae).

Pupa Stage

Approximately 8 days.

Pupa Description

Its shape looks like a Phoebis philea, but it has a smaller size. Pale green or pale reddish color.

Adults Description

Sexes dimorphic. Male distinguished from similar species by having a clear lemon yellow ground color with lighter yellow mealy distal margins. Female—dimorphic and variable; similar to female Phoebis argante, but distinguished by having two spots of roughly equal size in the distal portion of the forewing cell.

Habits Description

Occurs from sea level to 1,200 m, most commonly on the Pacific slope of Costa Rica, in association with open areas and bright sunshine. Its habits and migration patterns are similar to Phoebis argante.