Post by trehopr1 on Nov 3, 2018 7:20:28 GMT
Each summer during my travels afield I try to be especially alert right about Mid-July when the very first examples of our Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa)/formerly Eurema lisa; begin to make their appearance. This diminutive little butterfly with it's bold yellow coloration almost appears as a "dancing little sunspot" ever moving...
Yellow spot then nothing...Yellow spot again then nothing...Yellow spot yet again etc. Each upstroke of these little fellows wings briefly hides the glorious bright yellow for which these fellows are known. This species is one of our "seasonal colonizers" of the Midwest states. It gradually works it's way further North (from southern regions). The adults are said to have a weak flight however, I find this to be true only part of the time! I feel that when the (males) are well fed and are just looking for "girlfriends" they just sort of 'bob along" hither and dither on the prowl for any possible mates. But, when these little fellows are "on a mission"; be it food or a cool mud puddle then you better be on your game because you will miss em' if you don't stay sharp.
Below, is a fine selection of the species which I managed to take this summer. Females are a considerably "lighter' shade of yellow with a bit more black on the hindwing margins. I seem to find fewer of them...
Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa)
Various dates from only 1 locale.
Northern Illinois
With a wingspan measuring in at between 32-44mm; this species would be easy to overlook if not for that shade of yellow. The larvae feed on species of Cassia (Partridge pea), however, the adults feed on the nectar of species in the genus Aster. This species is what I would best term as "localized" where it may be found. Old fields which have been taken back by Mother Nature are the most likely haunts of the species. Of the 5 sites I visit in any given summer; only one supports this species to any degree. I find it between the months of Mid-July through Late September. I presume it has at least 2 broods up here.
I absolutely love these little "dapples of light" and I treasure every one I catch so, I make it a foremost point of preparing them up quickly and yet carefully upon my arrival home from the fields.
Yellow spot then nothing...Yellow spot again then nothing...Yellow spot yet again etc. Each upstroke of these little fellows wings briefly hides the glorious bright yellow for which these fellows are known. This species is one of our "seasonal colonizers" of the Midwest states. It gradually works it's way further North (from southern regions). The adults are said to have a weak flight however, I find this to be true only part of the time! I feel that when the (males) are well fed and are just looking for "girlfriends" they just sort of 'bob along" hither and dither on the prowl for any possible mates. But, when these little fellows are "on a mission"; be it food or a cool mud puddle then you better be on your game because you will miss em' if you don't stay sharp.
Below, is a fine selection of the species which I managed to take this summer. Females are a considerably "lighter' shade of yellow with a bit more black on the hindwing margins. I seem to find fewer of them...
Little Yellow (Pyrisitia lisa)
Various dates from only 1 locale.
Northern Illinois
With a wingspan measuring in at between 32-44mm; this species would be easy to overlook if not for that shade of yellow. The larvae feed on species of Cassia (Partridge pea), however, the adults feed on the nectar of species in the genus Aster. This species is what I would best term as "localized" where it may be found. Old fields which have been taken back by Mother Nature are the most likely haunts of the species. Of the 5 sites I visit in any given summer; only one supports this species to any degree. I find it between the months of Mid-July through Late September. I presume it has at least 2 broods up here.
I absolutely love these little "dapples of light" and I treasure every one I catch so, I make it a foremost point of preparing them up quickly and yet carefully upon my arrival home from the fields.
