Sleepy Orange

(Eurema nicippe)

Sleepy Orange sightings by week

Sleepy Orange sightings, by week (about)

Sleepy Orange
Sleepy OrangeClick to enlarge

Ocracoke Island, Hyde Co., NC. March 26, 2007.

This butterfly is an occasional stray to Wisconsin. Like many of the other strays, the Sleepy Orange may occasionally form colonies under favorable conditions. Ebner relates information about a colony in Grant County that was observed over a ten-day period.

Identifying characteristics: Wingspan of this species varies from one and a half to two and a quarter inches. Above it is yellowish orange with an irregular black border, similar to the Clouded Sulphur, but without the obvious round black spots on the front wing, and no round spots on the hindwing. Below this species is also a yellowish orange with a variety of spots, including a horizontal darker diagonal line near the middle of the hindwing.

Similar species: The Orange Sulphur may look similar while flying, but is easily distinguished from this species while at rest because of the Clouded Sulphurs central spots below.

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distribution of Sleepy Orange
Map key

Sleepy Orange
Eurema nicippe