Zerene cesonia
| Southern dogface | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Genus: | Zerene |
| Species: | Z. cesonia |
| Binomial name | |
| Zerene cesonia (Stoll, 1790) | |
 | |
| Synonyms | |
|
Colias cesonia (Stoll, 1790) | |
Zerene cesonia, the southern dogface, is a North American and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae (until recently the species was sometimes placed in the related genus Colias instead of Zerenia).
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.
Ecology
This butterfly can be found in short-grass prairie hills, open woodlands, and near road edges. Both male and female southern dogfaces may be seen feeding at flowers such as alfalfa, Coreopsis sp., Houstonia sp., and Verbena sp.. Males are also fond of puddling. 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.. 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.