Pyrisitia
Butler, 1870
little yellows
Species Guides
4- Pyrisitia dina(Dina Yellow)
- Pyrisitia lisa(Little Yellow)
- Pyrisitia nise(mimosa yellow)
- Pyrisitia proterpia(little yellow)
Pyrisitia is a of small yellow butterflies in the Pieridae, commonly known as "little yellows." The genus was established by Butler in 1870 and is sometimes treated as a synonym of Eurema. in this genus are characterized by their diminutive size and yellow coloration, and they occur in the Americas. The type species and most members are found in North, Central, and South America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Pyrisitia: /pɪˈɹɪsɪtiə/
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Images
Distribution
Americas; records include Vermont (United States) and Ibagué (Colombia).
Similar Taxa
- EuremaPyrisitia is sometimes synonymized with Eurema; both contain small yellow butterflies with similar and are distinguished primarily by taxonomic interpretation rather than clear morphological differences.
- AbaeisBoth contain small yellow butterflies in the Coliadinae; Abaeis (sleepy orange) differs in having more orange coloration and distinct wing patterns.
- ZereneBoth are Pieridae with yellow coloration; Zerene (e.g., southern dogface) are generally larger and have more pronounced wing markings including dark borders.
- PhoebisBoth are Coliadinae with yellow butterflies; Phoebis (e.g., cloudless sulphur) are substantially larger and lack the small size characteristic of Pyrisitia.
More Details
Taxonomic Note
Pyrisitia has a complex taxonomic history. It has been treated both as a valid and as a synonym of Eurema. The Wikipedia source provided incorrectly associates Pyrisitia with the Eurema entry, which describes Eurema as "grass yellow" butterflies. Pyrisitia are specifically referred to as "little yellows" to distinguish them from the generally larger "sulphurs" and "orange-tips" in related genera.