Category Archives: orange barred sulphur

So many eggs

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The orange barred sulphur has been visiting the garden daily this week, leaving tons of eggs behind on our Bahama Cassia tree. I absolutely adore this butterfly because it is such a ray of sunshine while flying.

I have read that the orange barred sulphur is the largest southeastern sulphur. The females are also larger than the male. Now that we are in the summer months, the female is orange yellow with dark molting coloring.

These butterflies are incredibly fast in flight and can be very hard to photograph. So I was excited when I got some good ones of her laying eggs.

Spotted one

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I love the hunt you go on in the garden when you know that caterpillars have reached their final instar, ready for their next stage.

I have a wishing well in the middle of my garden that has a bucket full of bromeliads, which I have noticed has become a good hiding place for an assortment of caterpillars.

Today, my finds were a monarch chrysalis and an orange barred chrysalis. It’s amazing how far caterpillars will travel to find their final resting place before turning into a gorgeous butterfly.

Nature is truly incredible to witness.

Leaving the host plant

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The orange barred sulphur caterpillars are slowly leaving its host plant, but not traveling to far away. I am still in search of their chrysalis. So far no luck. They are good at hiding!

Right now I do not have any flowers on my Bahama cassia tree, but have read that if the caterpillars eat the leaves they are mostly green, but if they eat the flowers they become yellow. I will definitely have to pay attention when it blooms.

I find it interesting that the orange-barred sulphurs first became established in the late 1920s in Florida. They are uncommon in the panhandle of Florida, but can be seen flying year round in South Florida.

Munching away

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My Bahama cassia is crawling with orange barred sulphur caterpillars. It was a lot of fun watching them today munching away on leaves. One looked like a gymnast as it found the perfect leaf to snack upon.

I have decided to watch this batch of caterpillars in nature, which has been fun. Now the hunt has begun, as I know some have reached their perfect size. I wonder where I will find their chrysalis. The chrysalis is the same color of the leaf, and mimics a leaf quite brilliantly.

I am beyond thrilled that the sulphurs have returned to the garden.

Vibrant yellow

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We had an orange barred sulphur emerge in our butterfly house. I am awe of the vibrant yellow, which when the sun hits the wings just right, shows a beautiful hue of orange as well.

The best part is my Bahama cassia, its host plant is crawling with caterpillars of every instar at the current moment.