Little Yellow

Pyrisitia lisa

Summary 5

The Little Yellow was formerly placed in the genus Eurema, but recent taxonomic studies now places it in the genus Pyrisitia (Opler and Warren, 2003).

Opler, P. A. and A. D. Warren. 2003. Butterflies of North America. 2. Scientific Names List for Butterfly Species of North America, north of Mexico.

Description 5

Upperside of male forewing yellow with wide black apex. Hind wing with black border. Female yellow or white (rare) with black borders. Both sexes with small black spot in forewing cell.

Larval Description 5

Abdomen with annules; short hairs giving a fuzzy appearance; light green; subdorsal stripe dark green; lateral stripe white.

Larval host plants 5

Partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata) and wild sensitive plant (C. nicitans) in the pea family (Fabaceae).

GTM Occurrence 5

The Little Yellow is considered frequent at the GTM. However, in November, 2009, 111 individuals were observed. This high number of specimens observed during one day skewed the data for this species. In the other years of this study the Little Yellow was only seen during April, May, July, September, October, and December and only in numbers of 1 to 6 individuals per month for Transects A-C.

Most observations were in the open habitat along Transect A. Five specimens have been observed from the Marsh Pond Overlook (Transect B) and only a single individual has been observed from the Red Bay Walk (Transect D). There have been 134 specimens observed as of December 28, 2015.

Distribution 6

Global Range: Great Lake States and New England south to the Gulf of Mexico; bounded in the west by Colorado and in the east by the Atlantic. Species also occurs in South America and the West Indies.

Habitat 7

Comments: At least a transient breeder in any kind of dry to occasionally mesic open, lightly shaded, or edge situation with CASSIA spp. Very often roadsides, right of ways etc. A temporary colonist only in most of US range and in many habitats in its regular range.

Nature serve conservation status 8

Rounded Global Status Rank: G5 - Secure

Reasons: Widespread, weedy abundant species.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) David Gardner, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by David Gardner
  2. (c) Greg Lasley, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Greg Lasley
  3. (c) Steven Bach, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), uploaded by Steven Bach, http://www.flickr.com/photos/somebachs/8167603927/
  4. (c) GTMResearchReserve, all rights reserved, uploaded by GTMResearchReserve
  5. (c) GTMResearchReserve, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA)
  6. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28745955
  7. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28745960
  8. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28745949

More Info

iNat Map

Category name frequent