Aphrissa statira
Encyclopedia
The Statira Sulphur, Aphrissa statira, is a species
of lepidoptera
in the family Pieridae
.
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.
On the bottom, they are both pale green to white.
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.
.
The species eats nectar from red-colored plants.
In Florida, the caterpillar hosts on Dalbergia ecastophyllum and Calliandra
, both members of the pea family (Fabaceae
).
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.
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of lepidoptera
Lepidoptera
Lepidoptera is a large order of insects that includes moths and butterflies . It is one of the most widespread and widely recognizable insect orders in the world, encompassing moths and the three superfamilies of butterflies, skipper butterflies, and moth-butterflies...
in the family Pieridae
Pieridae
The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing approximately 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and Asia. Most pierid butterflies are white, yellow or orange in coloration, often with black spots...
.
Description
Aphrissa statira have a wingspan of about 2.37 inches (6 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.
On the bottom, they are both pale green to white.
A study conducted in Panama
Panama
Panama , officially the Republic of Panama , is the southernmost country of Central America. Situated on the isthmus connecting North and South America, it is bordered by Costa Rica to the northwest, Colombia to the southeast, the Caribbean Sea to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. The...
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.
Ecology
Aphrissa statira are found in tropical scrubs, gardens, fields, forest edges of the AmericasAmericas
The Americas, or America , are lands in the Western hemisphere, also known as the New World. In English, the plural form the Americas is often used to refer to the landmasses of North America and South America with their associated islands and regions, while the singular form America is primarily...
.
The species eats nectar from red-colored plants.
In Florida, the caterpillar hosts on Dalbergia ecastophyllum and Calliandra
Calliandra
Calliandra is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae, subfamily Mimosoideae. It contains about 200 species that are native to tropical and subtropical regions of southern Asia, Africa, Australia and the Americas.-Biological description:...
, both members of the pea family (Fabaceae
Fabaceae
The Fabaceae or Leguminosae, commonly known as the legume, pea, or bean family, is a large and economically important family of flowering plants. The group is the third largest land plant family, behind only the Orchidaceae and Asteraceae, with 730 genera and over 19,400 species...
).
Geographic range and habitat
The species range from ArgentinaArgentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
north to southern Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and southern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. They are stray through southern Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
, New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, and Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
. Many flights occur in Florida from June through February and make large migrations in the tropics.