Tailed Orange Butterfly

Sulphur Butterflies (Coliadinae) Cloudless Sulphur Dainty Sulphur Large Orange Sulphur Little Yellow Lyside Sulphur Mimosa Yellow Orange Sulphur Sleepy Orange Southern Dogface Butterfly Pictures

The Tailed Orange (Pyrisitia proterpia) butterfly gets its name from the very small tail-like projection at the bottom of its wings.

It is primarily a neotropical species with a small presence in the Desert Southwest and Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas.

The picture shows a side view of the contrasting top and bottom wings. The bottom wings have a darker color with brown patterns along the veins.

Unlike many butterflies, with open wings, the Tailed Orange has a square rather than circular appearance.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels