About Phoebis agarithe (Boisduval, 1836)
Phoebis agarithe, commonly known as the large orange sulphur, is a butterfly species belonging to the family Pieridae. Its native range extends from Peru northward to southern Texas and peninsular Florida. Rare stray individuals can be found as far north as Colorado, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey. This species has also been introduced to Hawaii. It inhabits open tropical lowland environments, including gardens, pastures, road edges, trails, and parks. The wingspan of adult Phoebis agarithe measures 57–86 mm (2.2–3.4 inches). In southern Texas, adults are active from August to September, while they are active year-round in tropical parts of the species' range. Adults feed on flower nectar, and prefer the nectar of lantana, shepherd's needle, bougainvillea, rose periwinkle, Turk's cap, and hibiscus. The larvae of this species feed on the fresh leaves of plants from the Pithecellobium and Inga genera.
