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Yellow larva of the cloudless sulphur, Phoebis sennae
I believe the caterpillar pictured above is the cloudless sulphur caterpillar (Phoebis sennae). Apparently there are variations in colors and patterns for the cloudless sulfur caterpillars. According to an article on the University of Florida IFAS website, the caterpillars that “feed predominantly on flowers are yellow with black transverse bands”. It was feeding on the flowers, it has the described pattern, and we often see the sulfur-colored butterflies around the candlestick plants, so my conclusion is that it is a cloudless sulfur caterpillar.
I like the cheerful color of the candlestick flowers and we enjoy the dancing yellow butterflies. Losing a few of the flowers to the munching caterpillars is a fair exchange. Besides, the cassia plants produces many seeds. There are several volunteer cassia plants growing in the front and back gardens so I don’t think we’ll run out of flowers any time soon.
Filed under: Backyard wildlife, Ecology, Florida-Friendly Tagged: candlestick plant, Cassia alata, caterpillars, cloudless sulfur larvae, cloudless sulphur, clouldless sulfur caterpillars, university of florida ifas, yellow butterflies Image may be NSFW.
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Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
