Wisconsin Native Caterpillars
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.