Species › Insects & Arthropods › Dainty Sulphur

Dainty Sulphur

Nathalis iole

CommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole)

The Dainty Sulphur is the smallest sulphur butterfly in North America, barely over an inch in wingspan, with pale yellow wings and distinctive dark markings at the wing tips and along the inner hindwing margin. Despite its tiny size it is a strong migrant, expanding northward in summer. Adults fly close to the ground and are easily overlooked among weeds.

Habitat
Open disturbed areas, dry fields, and desert edges
Diet
Larvae: fetid marigold and other Asteraceae. Adults: nectar from small flowers
How common
Common

Best time to see a Dainty Sulphur

The best time to see a Dainty Sulphur is March–September, when about 63% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 25,003 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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