Large Orange Sulphur
Phoebis agarithe (Boisduval, 1836)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upper surface of male bright orange with no markings. Two female forms, pink-white or yellow-orange. Underside forewing of both sexes with straight submarginal line. Two seasonal forms; winter form has heavier underside markings.
Wing Span: 2 1/4 - 3 3/8 inches (5.7 - 8.6 cm).
Life History: Caterpillars eat new leaves.
Flight: All year in south Texas and south Florida, strays north in mid- to late summer.
Caterpillar Hosts: Pithecellobium and Inga species in the pea family (Fabaceae).
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers of lantana, shepherd\'s needle, bougainvilla, rose periwinkle, turk's cap, and hibiscus.
Habitat: Open, tropical lowlands including gardens, pastures, road edges, trails, parks.
Range: Peru north to southern Texas and peninsular Florida. Rare stray to Colorado, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 521 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 16, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 17, 2024
Observation date: Oct 05, 2024
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 10, 2024
Observation date: Sep 12, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: bp24kel
Region: Texas, Kimble County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 30, 2024
Observation date: Aug 26, 2024
Submitted by: Ssollowa
Region: Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 18, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Ssollowa
Region: Woodward County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 18, 2024
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2024
Submitted by: cjgoin
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 08, 2024
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: Lidia Martinez
Region: El Paso County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 29, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 01, 2024
Observation date: Jan 23, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 23, 2024
Observation date: Jan 08, 2024
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 09, 2024
Observation date: Nov 18, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 05, 2024
Observation date: Sep 09, 2023
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: May 23, 2023
Submitted by: marthainfreeport
Region: The Bahamas
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 14, 2023
Observation date: Jun 27, 2023
Submitted by: ridgeboy
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 05, 2023
Observation date: Oct 13, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 30, 2023
Observation date: Nov 02, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 28, 2023
Observation date: Jan 02, 2023
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Sonsonate, El Salvador
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: May 24, 2023
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