3 times now I've seen this butterfly (no, its not a moth) in my backyard, but have yet to figure out what type of butterfly it actually is. Anyone have a clue? I live in North Central Florida. This butterfly is solid lemon yellow. Would just like to know who my little visitors are.
Thanks
Solid Yellow Butterfly?
Hi Cue....
This is a map search that will list all butterflies in your county if you put the info in. The all yellow butterflies are sulphurs, so look at the pictures, there are a lot of them.
http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/map?_fc=1&x=278&y=195
Thank you so much for the link! I had googled every combination of Florida, yellow, and butterfly that I could think of with no luck. I am now pretty certain its a Lyside Sulfur! Woot!
The Sulfurs seem to be fond of Senna. Got any of that? :)
Senna is a host plant for some sulfurs. That means they lay eggs and caterpillars eat on that plant only. Then they will make a chrysalis from which the butterfly emerges. So don't spray your host plants, it kills our butterflies.
Here is a great list of host plants and butterflies. Click on the section Butterfly Gardening.
http://www.dallasbutterflies.com/
Hey, thanks for the butterflies and moths map Sheila! That will be handy. My books don't show all of the BFs and moths for MS.
Thanks for the link, so far I have two host plants, but nothing for the Sulphurs. I have Milkweed and Lantana. everything else is a nectar plant.
Cue....You might watch for a seed trade thread on the Hummer and Butterfly forum later this year. Also there are a lot of native plants that are host plants for butterflies too. Check with your local Native Plant Society for their next sale.