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Wisconsin Native Caterpillars

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) caterpillar

Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar

Genus-Species: Phoebis sennae

Description: Color is variable: may be green with a bright yellow stripe; green with a bright yellow stripe and blue patches on the sides; yellow with bright yellow line on sides; yellow with bright yellow line on sides and black rings. All have varying degrees of short hairs that come from tiny black tubercles.

Chrysalis: Green, yellow or rosy in color. Greatly compressed from side to side. Resembles a leaf.

Host Plants: The host plant may be partridge pea (Chamaecrista cinerea), sennas (Senna), clovers (Trifolium), or other legumes (Fabaceae).

Habitat: Open areas, including prairies, old fields, roadsides, and gardens.

Comments: The Cloudless Sulphur cannot survive northern winters, and is considered a stray in Wisconsin. The species does not stray to Wisconsin every year, and it should be considered a rare find.

Adult Cloudless Sulphur Butterfly Profile
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