The Butterflies of the World Foundation

A Non-Profit Organization

Nathalis iole, Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, Comanche County, Oklahoma, 13 May 2007                                                                                Ref #: I-372-8.3

Nathalis iole, captured by crab spider, Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge, Comanche County, Oklahoma, 23 April 2007                                    Ref #:  SP-180-16

Dainty Sulphur

Nathalis iole, Boisduval, 1836

Subfamily Coliadinae

Taxonomy

There are about 1100 or so species within the family Pieridae.  The family is further divided into three subfamilies, the Coliadinae which has about 300 species worldwide and includes the Sulphurs, Yellows and Brimstones, the Pierinae which has about 700 species worldwide and includes the Whites, Orange-tips and Jezebels, and the Dismorphiinae which has about 100 species mostly in the tropics and includes the Wood Whites and Mimics.

Nathalis iole, Dead Man Campground, Manzano Mountains, Cibola National Forest, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, 1 July 1998                                             Ref #: I-21-4

Nathalis iole, Dead Man Campground, Manzano Mountains, Cibola National Forest, Bernalillo County, New Mexico, 1 October 1998                                     Ref #: I-28-5.3

Nathalis iole, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 29 September 2005                                                                          Ref #: I-327-16.2

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General Information:

Nathalis iole is a small butterfly with an average wingspan of less than an inch, the smallest sulphur in North America.  It can be found in most areas such as fields, roadsides, gardens, and even vacant lots, sometimes abundantly.  It comes in two variations, a light summer form and a darker winter form.  It’s range is in the southern U.S.

Lifecycle:

The larval hostplants for this butterfly are asters including marigold, bidens and many others.  The variable colored larvae hatch after four to seven days from lemon-yellow to orange-yellow eggs.

Sneezeweed, Heleniuim amarum, a common larval food plant, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                           F-53-12.4

Sneezeweed, Heleniuim amarum, a common larval food plant, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                            F-53-8.4

Sneezeweed, Heleniuim amarum, a common larval food plant, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma                                           F-53-16.4

Nathalis iole, mated pair, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 9 May 2012                                                                   Ref #: I-508-8.3

Nathalis iole, mated pair with interfering male, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 9 May 2012                                            Ref #: I-508-9

Nathalis iole, mated pair with interfering males, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 9 May 2012                                          Ref #: I-508-10

Nathalis iole, mated pair, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 16 May 2012                                                                   Ref #: I-511-12