Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Pieridae

     Colias cesonia
     Southern Dogface


male upperside
male underside
female upperside
female underside

Size: wingspread 2-2.5 in.
Recognition: Yellow with dark outer wing edges (thicker and covering more of FW than in California Dogface); black (discal) spot on upper outer FW.
Flight period: Adults are active from May to August and August to April.
Hostplants: The larva feeds on false indigo (Amorpha californica), and various legumes.
Habitat: Found in open areas such as desert areas and edges, and sunny fields.
Distribution: Found from southern U.S. to South America. Present in the mountains of southern California desert areas, such as the Providence mountains, Chuckwalla mountains, and in San Diego County.
Other: The Southern dogface is most likely only found in southern California as a stray from breeding populations in Arizona and Mexico.

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