Aphrissa statira

Statira sulphur
A. s. statira - dorsal side
A. s. statira - ventral side
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Aphrissa
Species: A. statira
Binomial name
Aphrissa statira
Cramer, 1777
Synonyms

Aphrissa statira, the statira sulphur,[1] is a species of Lepidoptera in the family Pieridae.[2]

Description

Aphrissa statira has a wingspan of about 2.37 inches (6.0 cm) to 3.12 inches (7.9 cm). The upper surface of the male wing is divided by ridged of scales. The outer half of wing is pale yellow and inner half is lemon yellow. The female wing is lemon yellow with black borders at the apex and outer margin, and has a solid black cell spot.[3] On the bottom, they are both pale green to white.[4]

A study conducted in Panama demonstrated that Aphrissa statira loses its navigational capacity when exposed to a strong magnetic field, suggesting it uses the Earth's magnetic field to navigate.[3]

Ecology

Aphrissa statira are found in tropical scrubs, gardens, fields and forest edges. The species eats nectar from red-colored plants.[5] In Florida, the caterpillar hosts on Dalbergia ecastophyllum and Calliandra, both members of the pea family (Fabaceae).[3]

Geographic range

The species ranges from Argentina north to southern Texas and southern Florida, United States. There are strays through southern Georgia, New Mexico, and Kansas. Many flights occur in Florida from June through February and they make large migrations in the tropics.[3][6]

References

  1. ↑ "Statira Sulphur". Retrieved 1 January 2010.
  2. ↑ Catalogue of Life: 2009 Annual Checklist
  3. 1 2 3 4 Srygley, Robert B.; Evandro G. Oliveira; Andre J . Riveros (2005). "Experimental evidence for a magnetic sense in Neotropical migrating butterflies (Lepidoptera: Pieridae)" (PDF). The British Journal of Animal Behaviour. 71 (1): 183–191. doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2005.04.013. ISSN 0003-3472. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-11-04.
  4. ↑ P. Brock, Jim; Kaufman, Kenn (2003). Butterflies of North America. New York, New York: Houghtin Mifflin Company. p. 76. ISBN 0-618-25400-5.
  5. ↑ "Statira Sulphur (Phoebis statira)". Nearctica. Retrieved 2009-12-22.
  6. ↑ P. Brock, Jim; Kaufman, Kenn (2003). Butterflies of North America. New York, New York: Houghtin Mifflin Company. p. 76. ISBN 0-618-25400-5.


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