Butterflies of North Carolina

Common Name begins with:
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Scientific Name begins with:
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Once on a species account page, clicking on the "View PDF" link will show the flight data for that species, for each of the three regions of the state.
Other information, such as high counts and earliest/latest dates, can also been seen on the PDF page.

Related Species in PIERIDAE:
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Common Name

Cloudless Sulphur by Paul Hart => Raven Rock State Park, 2004-10-01, male top
[View PDF]

Click to enlarge
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Scientific Name

Phoebis sennae

Link to BAMONA species account.

Map

Click on a county for list of all database records for the species in that county.

Distribution

DISTRIBUTION: Statewide, occurring in all counties, but primarily a northbound migrant into the state in summer and fall. Small numbers of adults appear in spring from larvae that have successfully overwintered.

Abundance

ABUNDANCE: Except after harsh winters, it is usually very common to abundant in late summer and fall in the Coastal Plain, especially in the lower Coastal Plain. Numbers decrease inland, but generally fairly common to common in the eastern Piedmont, and uncommon to fairly common in the upper Piedmont and Mountains. Numbers are typically highest in September, when over 100 individuals can be seen in a day in some Coastal Plain counties. Mostly uncommon to occasionally fairly common in spring and early summer.

Flight

FLIGHT PERIOD: One relatively small brood from early March through June. However, one to two additional broods from July to late fall. The bulk of the butterflies are present from mid-July into November, peaking in August and September. Most of these are clearly migrants; there is an obvious northerly or northeasterly movement in August and early September. Lingering individuals can be seen flying on any day in winter if the weather is mild or warm.

Habitat

HABITAT: Widespread in open country; fields, meadows, croplands, savannas, gardens, etc. It is not a species of woodlands, but it is often seen along woodland edges.

See also Habitat Account for General Fields, Gardens, and Ruderal Habitats

Plants

FOOD AND NECTAR PLANTS: All foodplants are in the legume family (Fabaceae); the main species are sennas (Senna spp.). The species nectars on a great variety of flowers.

Comments

COMMENTS: Of the southern species that migrate northward into NC in summer and fall, this is by far the most conspicuous. Dozens can be seen drifting northward in the early fall across fields and roads in the Coastal Plain. This is often the most commonly seen butterfly in the Coastal Plain in August, September, and October.

State Rank

State Status

Global Rank

Federal Status

Synonym

Other Name

Links to other butterfly galleries: [Cook] [Lynch] [Pippen] [Pugh]
Photo Gallery for Cloudless Sulphur
	Photo by: Nancy Baldwin Comment: chrysalis, 28-July-1997, Mayesville, SC Cloudless Sulphur - Click to enlarge	Photo by: Roger Rittmaster Comment: Pender Co. Cloudless Sulphur - Click to enlarge
	Photo by: Liza Hagey Comment: Burke Co. 2024-09-14, iNaturalist Cloudless Sulphur - Click to enlarge	Photo by: Jeff Pippen Comment: Dare Co, NC - 2 Oct 2005 Cloudless Sulphur - Click to enlarge
	Photo by: Jeff Pippen Comment: Craven Co., NC - 28 Aug 2005 Cloudless Sulphur - Click to enlarge