Sleepy Orange

We've had an explosion of Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe syn. Abaeis nicippe) butterflies at MOSI Outside lately! This butterfly is seen most commonly in Central Florida in late summer and fall, and this year is no exception. This fairly small butterfly is a member of the Pieridae family, which includes sulphurs and whites. The adult butterflies are brilliant orange-yellow with black margins on their wing edges. In flight, their top wings display flashes of bright orange, but they rarely rest with their wings spread. The mottled underside of their wings provides excellent camouflage and these butterflies are very hard to spot when sitting still. 

The larvae host on various members of the Cassia family but the ones onsite at MOSI seem to prefer Candlestick Cassias (Cassia alata), Sicklepod Cassias (Cassia obtusifolia) and Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata). The larvae are easily distinguished from other sulphur caterpillars by their pale green color, tiny hairs and the white racing stripe that runs the length of their bodies. 

In summer, Sleepy Oranges can be found as far north as the Upper Midwest. They move south in the winter, spending warmer days finding food and hibernating on cooler days. These butterflies, like many other sulphurs, are often seen gathered around wet patches of soil or sand. This "puddling" behavior allows them a chance to drink water as well as take in natural salts that they need.

What's in a Name? Some say their common name comes from the tiny black lines on their wings, said to resemble an eyelash or closed eye. Butterflies and Moths of North America lists this species as Abaeis nicippe, while other sources use Eurema nicippe.