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Wisconsin Native Caterpillars

American Lady (Vanessa virginiensis) caterpillar

Dainty Sulphur Caterpillar

Genus-Species: Nathalis iole

Description: Green with thin yellow stripes. Sometimes rosy-purple stripes are present.

Chrysalis: Small and green. Head is rounded rather than pointed.

Host Plants: Low-growing plants in the aster family (Asteraceae) especially shepherd's needle (Bidens pilosa), sneezeweed (Helenium), fetid marigold (Dyssodia), and cultivated marigold (Tagetes).

Habitat: Open, dry places including coastal flats, weedy fields, grasslands, road edges, meadows, and hillsides.

Comments: Caterpillar ranges up to 5/-inch, dark green with purple stripes on its back, and parallel black and yellow stripes on the side

Adult Dainty Sulphur Butterfly Profile
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