Description: 2-28 mm - males are orange above with dark boarders and a black spot on the forewing and a dark orange spot in the middle of the hindwing. Females are have a similar pattern but are either yellow or white and are highly variable. 

 

Habitat and Distribution: widespread throughout the United States but only a very rare stray to the Northern Keys from the Mainland. This butterfly is likely not a breeding resident in South Florida. They show up near horse and cattle farms where bails of hay and clover and delivered from northern parts of the contry to feed the animals. It is likely that pupae can reside in these bails and South Florida sightings are the adults of those that emerge.

 

Host Plant: alfalfa

 

Natural History: