Sulphur-butterfly
Guides
Anteos maerula
Yellow Angled-Sulphur, angled sulphur
Anteos maerula is a large Pieridae butterfly commonly known as the yellow angled-sulphur. Its native range extends from Peru through Central America to Mexico, with occasional vagrant individuals recorded as far north as the central and eastern United States. The species is distinguished by its angular wing margins and substantial wingspan, making it one of the larger sulphur butterflies in the Americas.
Aphrissa
sulphurs, sulfurs
Aphrissa is a genus of sulphur butterflies in the family Pieridae, comprising approximately eight species distributed across Central and South America, with some species extending into the Caribbean and southern Florida. The genus was established by Butler in 1873. Species within Aphrissa are characterized by yellow to pale orange wings and are commonly known as sulphurs or sulfurs. Several species exhibit migratory behavior, most notably Aphrissa statira, which undertakes seasonal movements in large numbers.
Aphrissa statira
statira sulphur
Aphrissa statira is a medium-sized yellow butterfly known for its dramatic annual migrations in tropical regions of the Americas. The species exhibits sexual dimorphism, with males displaying brighter lemon-yellow upper wings and females appearing paler yellow to greenish-white. It has been extensively studied for its navigational abilities, including use of Earth's magnetic field for orientation during migration. The species ranges from the southern United States through Central America to northern Argentina, with notable population densities in the Amazon basin.
Colias behrii
Behr's sulphur, Sierra green sulfur, Sierra Sulphur
Colias behrii is a small alpine butterfly endemic to the Sierra Nevada of California, restricted to high-elevation habitats mostly around and above 9,000 feet. It has a wingspan of 35–42 mm and is active from July to August. The species has been subject to genetic study revealing a historical range-wide bottleneck approximately 531–281 years ago, coinciding with a period of global cooling.
Colias hecla
Hecla Sulphur, Northern Clouded Yellow
A small to medium-sized sulphur butterfly of the Pieridae family, restricted to high-latitude and high-altitude regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The species shows pronounced sexual dimorphism in wing pattern, with females displaying distinctive yellow 'windows' interrupting the black marginal band. First described from Greenland, where it occurs without congeners. Multiple subspecies are recognized across its fragmented Holarctic range.