Species Insects & ArthropodsSouthern Dogface

Southern Dogface

Zerene cesonia

UncommonInsect & Arthropod
Illustration of Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia)

The Southern Dogface gets its name from the silhouette of a dog's face visible in the black forewing border of males. It is one of the fastest and most powerful fliers among North American sulphurs. Adults migrate northward in summer, appearing seasonally well outside their year-round range in the Deep South.

Habitat
Open scrub, dry prairies, roadsides, and desert edges
Diet
Larvae: false indigo and prairie clover. Adults: nectar
How common
Uncommon

Best time to see a Southern Dogface

The best time to see a Southern Dogface is September–December, when about 61% of U.S. sightings happen, based on 9,156 research-grade iNaturalist observations.

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