The little yellow (Eurema lisa) is the most common predominantly yellow butterfly most of us ever see yards. It is bright yellow and has a wingspan of only 1 – 1.6 inches. Although it looks much like a cloudless sulphur that never grew up, it is a separate species.
You can easily identify it when it lands and folds its wings over its body. In this position, if you look carefully, you will see a pair of tiny spots located near the forward edge of the folded wings. While it can be seen somewhere in Georgia from late January into early September, little yellows are most abundant from late summer into autumn. This is a butterfly that I never see flying far above the ground. Fortunately, for those of us that want to study one more closely, it will often land before resuming its erratic flight.
The little yellow nectars on a variety of plants, however, it seems to prefer to dine at flowers borne on plants in the genus Aster.
The favorite host plant of this strikingly beautiful tiny butterfly is partridge pea.
Thanks for the information, Terry.
Saw one at Gibbs Gardens yesterday. Didn’t know what it was. Thanks for the ID.
Anonymous,
I am glad you liked the information about this tiny butterfly.
Terry