Colias cesonia

Taxobox
name = Southern Dogface

---

regnum = Animalia
phylum = Arthropoda
classis = Insecta
ordo = Lepidoptera
familia = Pieridae
subfamilia = Coliadinae
tribus =
genus = "Colias"
species = "C. cesonia"
binomial = "Colias cesonia"
binomial_authority = (Stoll, 1790)
synonyms = Zerene cesonia (Stoll, 1790)

The Southern Dogface, "Colias cesonia", is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae. (It is sometimes placed in the related genus "Zerene").

Description

The upper side of the pointed fore wings have a dogface pattern. The wings are mainly yellow with black borders. The under side of the wings is mostly yellow with a black eyespot on the fore wing and two white spots on the hind wing.

Habitat

This butterfly can be found in short-grass prairie hills, open woodlands, and near road edges.

Nectar Plants

Both male and female Southern Dogfaces may be seen feeding at flowers such as Alfalfa "Medicago sativa", Coreopsis sp., Houstonia sp., and Verbena sp.. Males are also fond of puddling.

Host Plants

Its host plants include Lead Plant "Amorpha canescens", False Indigo "Amorpha fruticosa", Soy Bean "Glycine max", Alfalfa "Medicago sativa", Black Dalea "Dalea frutescens", Purple Prairie Clover "Dalea purpurea", and clover "Trifolium sp.".

Life Cycle

Males patrol areas for females. The male is the active flight partner. The green-white eggs are laid on the underside of the host plant leaves. The larva is green with a white stripe running down each side of its body. The green chrysalis hangs up right with a silken girdle around itself.

External links

[http://www.mariposasmexicanas.com/zerene_c_cesonia.htm| Photos of egg, larvae, pupae, and adults]

[http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species?l=1436| Southern Dogface]

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