Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243
Eurema daira
This record describes Eurema daira (species). Recorded family: Pieridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: small, weak-flying, yellow or white above. Female whitish to yellow; male always has a yellow forewing and usually yellow upper hindwing, but white upper hindwing in southern portion of range. Male has a black bar along the upper forewing lower margin. Female may also have a bar especially in summer form, but often reduced to a trace. Winter form is darker, suffused with rusty brown.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Pieridae (Whites, Sulphurs, Yellows)
- Subfamily
- Coliadinae
- Genus
- Eurema
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Disturbed open or brushy areas: roadsides, fields, gardens, sparse woodlands.
Geographic Range
Southeastern United States, west to Louisiana and southern Texas, north to South Carolina.
Seasonal Activity
Adults fly throughout the year in the far south; late summer and fall as a vagrant.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larvae feed on pencilflower ( Stylosanthes spp.), jointvetch ( Aeschynomene spp.), and other herbaceous legumes. Adults sip flower nectar and mud.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Eurema daira. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Hannah Nendick-Mason; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Robin McLeod , Matthew Roth
Frequently Asked Questions About Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243
What is Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243?
Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243 (Eurema daira) is a species in the family Pieridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243?
wingspan 32-41 mm
How do you identify Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243?
Adult: small, weak-flying, yellow or white above. Female whitish to yellow; male always has a yellow forewing and usually yellow upper hindwing, but white upper hindwing in southern portion of range. Male has a black bar along the upper forewing lower margin. Female may also have a bar especially in summer form, but often reduced to a trace. Winter form is darker, suffused with rusty brown.
Where is Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Disturbed open or brushy areas: roadsides, fields, gardens, sparse woodlands. |
| Range | Southeastern United States, west to Louisiana and southern Texas, north to South Carolina. |
What does Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243 eat?
The diet of the Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243 includes Larvae feed on pencilflower ( Stylosanthes spp.), jointvetch ( Aeschynomene spp.), and other herbaceous legumes. Adults sip flower nectar and mud..
When is Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243 active?
Barred Yellow - Hodges#4243: seasonal activity - Adults fly throughout the year in the far south; late summer and fall as a vagrant..