| Statira Sulphur | |
|---|---|
| Aphrissa statira statira - dorsal side | |
| Aphrissa statira 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 |
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| Synonyms | |
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The Statira Sulphur, Aphrissa statira,[1] is a species of lepidoptera in the family Pieridae.[2]
Contents |
Aphrissa statira have 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]
Aphrissa statira are found in tropical scrubs, gardens, fields, forest edges of the Americas. 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]
The species range from Argentina north to southern Texas and southern Florida, United States. They are stray through southern Georgia, New Mexico, and Kansas. Many flights occur in Florida from June through February and make large migrations in the tropics.[3][6]