Dainty Sulfur Butterfly

Pieridae: White and Sulfur Butterflies Orange Sulfur Sleepy Orange Southern Dogface Tailed Orange Types of Butterflies

The Dainty Sulfur (Nathalis iole) is the smallest sulfur butterfly found in the United States.

The caterpillars feed on plants in the aster family, the largest plant genus in the world. The Dainty Sulfur's range is almost as large as the caterpillar's food source, extending from Central American, north through the Midwestern United States.

The top picture shows a side view of the butterfly in its winter form. During the summer, the top and bottom wings show more yellow.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels