The Little Yellow is a small, vibrant yellow butterfly easily recognized by its black-tipped forewings and the black outer border on the upperside of its wings. Females typically have a reduced black border on the hindwings. The underside of the wings is scattered with dark markings, often including a large, rusty spot near the outer edge of the hindwing. Overall, males tend to be brighter and more uniformly marked, while females can sometimes appear white, especially in the fall.

 

“Little Yellow” by John Flannery, licensed under (CC BY-ND 2.0)

 

Little Yellow Facts

Butterfly Family: Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Coliadinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/4 – 1 3/4 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Dry, open areas including roadsides, sandy fields, abandoned fields, along railroad tracks, and occasionally open woods

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

• Sensitive Pea (Chamaecrista nictitans)

• Powderpuff (Mimosa strigillosa)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Little Yellow butterflies feed on nectar from a variety of native flowers:

• Asters (Symphyotrichum spp.)

• Black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)

• Blazing Star (Liatris spp.)

• Butterfly Weed (Asclepias tuberosa)

• Coreopsis (Coreopsis spp.)

• Golden Alexanders (Zizia aurea)

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

• Indian Blanket (Gaillardia pulchella)

• Lanceleaf Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

• Mountain Mint (Pycnanthemum tenuifolium)

• Narrowleaf Sunflower (Helianthus angustifolius)

• Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)

• Tickseed (Coreopsis tinctoria)

• Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)