• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Whites and Sulphurs
  • Whites
  • Sulphurs
• Sulphurs
  • Clouded Sulphur
  • Orange Sulphur
  • Pink-edged Sulphur
  • Southern Dogface
  • Cloudless Sulphur
  • Orange-barred Sulphur
  • Large Orange Sulphur
  • Mexican Yellow
  • Little Yellow
  • Sleepy Orange
  • Dainty Sulphur

Dainty Sulphur

(Nathalis iole)

The Dainty Sulphur is an immigrant species that repopulates Wisconsin each year from populations from farther south. I have seen this species in Central Wisconsin in four of the last eight years. It is the smallest of the Wisconsin Sulphur butterflies with only the largest individuals having a wingspan of over an inch. On August 28, 2005 I saw twelve individuals and was able to take the photos shown here. This was more than I had seen previously in my whole life!

Identifying characteristics: A small Sulphur, yellow above with a dark border on the front wing apex, similar to many of the other Sulphurs, and a dark bar on the trailing edge of the front wing. Below the butterfly may be mostly yellow or a darker gray-green with some yellow showing and noticeable black dots on the front wing

Similar species: None in Wisconsin.

Habitat: Disturbed areas, especially along gravel or dirt roads.

Flight: Late summer into fall. Immigrant from farther south, but may breed in favorable years.

Abundance: More common along the counties bordering the Wisconsin and Mississippi Rivers.

Submit a Dainty Sulphur sighting »