Butterflies of Cuba
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    • Species List >
      • Papilionidae : Papilioninae >
        • Battus devilliers - De Villiers' Swallowtail
        • Battus polydamas - Polydamas Swallowtail
        • Eurytides celadon - Cuban Kite Swallowtail
        • Heraclides andraemon - Bahaman Swallowtail
        • Heraclides androgeus - Androgeus Swallowtail
        • Heraclides aristodemus - Dusky Swallowtail
        • Heraclides caiguanabus - Poey's Swallowtail
        • Heraclides oviedo - Oviedo's Swallowtail
        • Heraclides oxynius - Cuban Black Swallowtail
        • Heraclides pelaus - Pelaus Swallowtail
        • Papilio demoleus - Lime Swallowtail
        • Papilio polyxenes - Black Swallowtail
        • Parides gundlachianus - Gundlach's Swallowtail
        • Pterourus palamedes - Palamedes Swallowtail
        • Pterourus troilus - Spicebush Swallowtail
      • Pieridae : Colladinae >
        • Abaeis nicippe - Sleepy Orange
        • Anteos clorinde - White-angled Sulphur
        • Anteos maerula - Yellow-angled Sulphur
        • Aphrissa neleis - Neleis Sulphur
        • Aphrissa orbis - Orbis Sulphur
        • Aphrissa statira - Statira Sulphur
        • Colias eurytheme - Orange Sulphur
        • Eurema amelia - Cuban Yellow
        • Eurema boisduvaliana - Boisduval's Yellow
        • Eurema daira - Barred Yellow
        • Eurema elathea - Banded Yellow
        • Eurema lucina - Smudged Yellow
        • Kricogonia cabrerai - Cuban Sulphur
        • Kricogonia lyside - Lyside Sulphur
        • Nathalis iole - Dainty Sulphur
        • Phoebis agarithe - Large Orange Sulphur
        • Phoebis argante - Apricot Sulphur
        • Phoebis avellaneda - Orange-washed Sulphur
        • Phoebis philea - Orange-barred Sulphur
        • Phoebis sennae - Cloudless Sulphur
        • Pyrisitia chamberlaini - Chamberlain's Yellow
        • Pyrisitia dina - Bush Sulphur
        • Pyrisitia larae - Confusing Yellow
        • Pyrisitia lisa - Little Yellow
        • Pyrisitia messalina - Whitish Yellow
        • Pyrisitia nise - Mimosa Yellow
        • Pyrisitia proterpia - Tailed Orange
        • Pyrisitia venusta - Pale Yellow
        • Zerene cesonia - Southern Dogface
      • Pieridae : Dismorphiinae >
        • Dismorphia cubana - Cuban Mimic-White
      • Pieridae : Pierinae >
        • Ascia monuste - Great Southern White
        • Ganyra menciae - Cuban White
        • Glutophrissa drusilla - Florida White
        • Melete salacia - Black-striped White
        • Pontia protodice - Checkered White
      • Riodinidae >
        • Dianesia carteri - Caribbean Metalmark
      • Lycaenidae : Theclinae >
        • Allosmaitia coelebs - Cuban Hairstreak
        • Chlorostrymon maesites - Amethyst Hairstreak
        • Chlorostrymon simaethis - Silver-banded Hairstreak
        • Electrostrymon angelia - Fulvous Hairstreak
        • Eumaeus atala - Atala Hairstreak
        • Ministrymon azia - Grey Ministreak
        • Nesiostrymon celida - Caribbean Hairstreak
        • Strymon acis - Bartram's Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon bazochii - Lantana Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon istapa - Mallow Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon limenia - Limenia Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon martialis - Martial Scrub-Hairstreak
        • Strymon toussainti - Toussaint's Scrub-Hairstreak
      • Lycaenidae : Polyommatinae >
        • Brephidium exilis - Pygmy Blue
        • Cupido comyntas - Eastern Tailed-Blue
        • Cyclargus ammon - Nickerbean Blue
        • Cyclargus thomasi - Miami Blue
        • Hemiargus ceraunus - Ceraunus Blue
        • Leptotes cassius - Cassius Blue
        • Leptotes hedgesi - Hedges' Blue
        • Pseudochrysops bornoi - Antillean Blue
      • Nymphalidae : Apaturinae >
        • Asterocampa idyja - Dusky Emperor
        • Doxocopa laure - Silver Emperor
      • Nymphalidae : Biblidinae >
        • Dynamine egaea - Caribbean Sailor
        • Dynamine postverta - Mexican Sailor
        • Eunica heraclitus - Cuban Purplewing
        • Eunica monima - Dingy Purplewing
        • Eunica tatila - Florida Purplewing
        • Hamadryas amphichloe - Pale Cracker
        • Hamadryas amphinome - Red Cracker
        • Hamadryas feronia - Variable Cracker
        • Lucinia sida - Caribbean Banner
        • Marpesia chiron - Many-banded Daggerwing
        • Marpesia eleuchea - Caribbean Daggerwing
      • Nymphalidae : Charaxinae >
        • Anaea cubana - Cuban Leafwing
        • Archaeoprepona demophoon - Two-spotted Prepona
        • Hypna clytemnestra - Silver-studded Leafwing
        • Memphis verticordia - Hispaniolan Leafwing
        • Siderone galanthis - Red-striped Leafwing
      • Nymphalidae : Danainae >
        • Anetia briarea - Many-spotted King
        • Anetia cubana - Cuban King
        • Anetia pantherata - Great King
        • Danaus eresimus - Soldier
        • Danaus gilippus - Queen
        • Danaus plexippus - Monarch
        • Greta cubana - Cuban Clearwing
        • Lycorea halia - Tiger Mimic Queen
      • Nymphalidae : Heliconiinae >
        • Agraulis vanillae - Gulf Fritillary
        • Dryas iulia - Flambeau
        • Eueides isabella - Isabella's Heliconian
        • Heliconius charithonia - Zebra Heliconian
      • Nymphalidae : Libytheinae >
        • Libytheana carinenta - American Snout
        • Libytheana motya - Cuban Snout
        • Libytheana terena - Antillean Snout
      • Nymphalidae Limenitinae >
        • Adelpha iphicleola - Iphicleola Sister
        • Limenitis archippus - Viceroy
      • Nymphalidae : Nymphalinae >
        • Anartia chrysopelea - Cuban Peacock
        • Anartia jatrophae - White Peacock
        • Anthanassa frisia - Cuban Crescent
        • Antillea pelops - Antillean Crescent
        • Atlantea perezi - Cuban Checkerspot
        • Colobura dirce - Mosaic
        • Euptoieta claudia - Variegated Fritillary
        • Euptoieta hegesia - Mexican Fritillary
        • Historis acheronta - Tailed Cecropian
        • Historis odius - Stinky Leafwing
        • Hypanartia paullus - Antillean Mapwing
        • Hypolimnas misippus - The Mimic
        • Junonia coenia - Common Buckeye
        • Junonia neildi - Mangrove Buckeye
        • Junonia zonalis - Tropical Buckeye
        • Phyciodes phaon - Phaon Crescent
        • Polygonia interrogationis - Question Mark
        • Siproeta stelenes - Malachite
        • Vanessa atalanta - Red Admiral
        • Vanessa cardui - Painted Lady
        • Vanessa virginiensis - American Lady
      • Nymphalidae : Satyrinae >
        • Calisto aquilum - Lesser Calisto
        • Calisto bradleyi - Bradley's Calisto
        • Calisto brochei - Broche's Calisto
        • Calisto bruneri - Bruner's Calisto
        • Calisto dissimulatum - Mimic Calisto
        • Calisto herophile - Cuban Calisto
        • Calisto israeli - Israel's Calisto
        • Calisto muripetens - Muripetens Calisto
        • Calisto occulta - Occult Calisto
        • Calisto smintheus - Smintheus Calisto
        • Calisto torrei - Torre's Calisto
      • Hesperiidae : Hesperiinae >
        • Asbolis capucinus - Monk Skipper
        • Atalopedes mesogramma - Mesogramma Skipper
        • Calpodes ethlius - Canna Skipper
        • Carystoides mexicana - Mexican Ruby-eye
        • Choranthus radians - Radians Skipper
        • Cymaenes tripunctus - Three-spotted Skipper
        • Euphyes cornelius - Cornelius Skipper
        • Euphyes singularis - Singularis Skipper
        • Holguinia holguin - Holguin Skipper
        • Hylephila phyleus - Fiery Skipper
        • Lerodea eufala - Eufala Skipper
        • Nyctelius nyctelius - Violet-banded Skipper
        • Oarisma bruneri - Bruner's Skipperling
        • Oarisma nanus - Nanus Skipperling
        • Panoquina corrupta - Corrupt Skipper
        • Panoquina lucas - Purple-washed Skipper
        • Panoquina ocola - Ocola Skipper
        • Panoquina panoquinoides - Obscure Skipper
        • Parachoranthus magdalia - Magdalia Skipper
        • Perichares philetes - Caribbean Ruby-eye
        • Polites baracoa - Baracoa Skipper
        • Pyrrhocalles antiqua - Caribbean Skipper
        • Rhinthon cubana - Cuban Rhinthon
        • Saliana esperi - Perching Saliana
        • Synapte malitiosa - Caribbean Faceted Skipper
        • Wallengrenia otho - Southern Broken Dash
      • Hesperiidae : Eudaminae >
        • Aguna asander - Gold-spotted Aguna
        • Aguna claxon - Emerald Aguna
        • Astraptes anaphus - Caribbean Yellow-tipped Flasher
        • Astraptes cassander - Cuban Flasher
        • Astraptes habana - Frosty Flasher
        • Astraptes talus - Green Flasher
        • Astraptes xagua - Antillean Flasher
        • Autochton cellus - Golden-banded Skipper
        • Cabares potrillo - Potrillo Skipper
        • Chioides marmorosa - Cuban Longtail
        • Epargyreus zestos - Zestos Skipper
        • Phocides pigmalion - Mangrove Skipper
        • Polygonus leo - Hammock Skipper
        • Proteides maysi - May's Skipper
        • Proteides mercurius - Cuban Mercurial Skipper
        • Urbanus dorantes - Dorantes Longtial
        • Urbanus proteus - Common Long-tailed Skipper
      • Hesperiidae : Pyrginae >
        • Anastrus sempiternus - Common Anastrus
        • Burca braco - Braco Skipper
        • Burca concolor - Concolorous Skipper
        • Burca cubensis - Cuban Skipper
        • Chiomara mithrax - Mithrax Duskywing
        • Eantis munroei - Munroe's Sicklewing
        • Eantis papinianus - Cuban Sicklewing
        • Ephyriades arcas - Caribbean Duskywing
        • Ephyriades brunnea - Florida Duskywing
        • Ephyriades zephodes - Zephodes Duskywing
        • Erynnis zarucco - Zarucco Skipper
        • Gesta gesta - Impostor Duskywing
        • Ouleus fridericus - Fridericus Spreadwing
        • Pyrgus crisia - Antillean Checkered Skipper
        • Pyrgus oileus - Tropical Checkered Skipper
    • Download Species List
    • Thumbnails >
      • Papilionidae - Swallowtails
      • Pieridae - Whites & Yellows
      • Riodinidae / Lycaenidae - Metalmarks, Hairstreaks & Blues
      • Nymphalidae - Nymphalids
      • Hesperiidae - Skippers
    • Hostplants >
      • Picramnia pentrandra
      • Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
    • Other Wildlife >
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Pieridae : Coliadinae

Aphrissa orbis (Poey, 1832)
Orbis Sulphur

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Aphrissa orbis Orbis Sulphur male 11 Dec 2014 Viñales, Pinar del Río © Douglas Fernández
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Description and Similar Species: Wingspan 65-74mm. Sexually dimorphic. Males are whitish above with a large bright yellow patch at the base of the forewing, and the underside is pale yellow with some small red or blackish/brown markings and eyespots. Females are bright yellow on both sides with a prominent brown border and discal spot on the upper forewing and four brown spots on the trailing edge of the hindwing. On the underside both wings have bold reddish markings and borders with a large discal spot on the forewing and two white dark-edged spots on the hindwing.
Range: Endemic to the West Indies where it is found on Cuba and Hispaniola only, though there has been one recorded stray in S Florida in April 1973. The endemic subspecies orbis is found on Cuba and the subspecies browni is found only on Hispaniola. 
Status: Said to be common in west and central Cuba (Smith) though we have not found it so on our visits to date. Rarely found in the east of Cuba. More often found in wooded highlands though sometimes seen lower down and at the coast. Specimens from Hispaniola are larger and the genitalia of the two subspecies are distinct and it will be interesting to see if DNA indicates that they should be split into two species.
Nectar Plants: Caesalpinia, Ageratum, Ixora, Vernonia, Hibiscus, Antigonon and is also found mud-puddling.
Larval Foodplants: Caesalpinia (Poinciana) pulcherrima and
Caesalpinia bahamensis Lam. ssp. bahamensis (Fabaceae-Caesalpinioideae).
Aphrissa orbis Orbis Sulphur male Guanahacabibes 27 Mar 1993. Coll. D.S.Smith. Specimen from the collection of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Aphrissa orbis Orbis Sulphur male Guanahacabibes 27 Mar 1993. Coll. D.S.Smith. Specimen from the collection of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis fem ovipositing Santa Clara 19 Jun 2018 © Tim Norriss
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis fem Santa Clara 19 Jun 2018 © Tim Norriss
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis fem Santa Clara 19 Jun 2018 © Tim Norriss
Egg
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis egg on Caesalpinia pulcherrima Santa Clara 19 Jun 2018 © Tim Norriss
Larva
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis larva 2nd instar on Caesalpinia bahamensis Maraguán Camagüey 01 Oct 2016 © Tim Norriss
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis larva 3rd instar on Caesalpinia bahamensis Maraguán Camagüey 01 Oct 2016 © Tim Norriss
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis larva 3rd instar on Caesalpinia bahamensis Maraguán Camagüey 01 Oct 2016 © Tim Norriss
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis larva 5th instar Maraguán Camagüey 07 Oct 2016 © Douglas Fernández
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis larva on Caesalpinia pulcherrima Santa Clara 19 Jun 2018 © Tim Norriss
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis larva on Caesalpinia pulcherrima Santa Clara 19 Jun 2018 © Tim Norriss
Foodplants and Habitat
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis foodplant Caesalpinia bahamensis Maraguán Camagüey 01 Oct 2016 © Tim Norriss
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis foodplant Caesalpinia bahamensis Maraguán Camagüey 01 Oct 2016 © Tim Norriss
Orbis Sulphur Aphrissa orbis habitat Maraguán Camagüey 01 Oct 2016 © Tim Norriss
Caesalpinia pulcherrima Santa Clara 19 Jun 2018 © Tim Norriss
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