The Southern Dogface is a bright yellow and black butterfly. The upper side of the pointed forewings has a dogface pattern. The spot forms the eye of the dog with the face in the profile. The wings are mainly yellow with black borders. The underside of the wings is mostly yellow with a black eyespot on the forewing and two white spots on the hindwing.

 

“Southern Dogface Butterfly” by Ken Bosma, licensed under (CC BY 2.0)

 

Southern Dogface Facts

Butterfly Family: Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Coliadinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 2 1/8 – 3 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Dry, open areas such as short-grass prairie hills, scrub oak groves, open woodland, and road edges

 

Southern Dogface Host and Nectar Plants

Host Plants:

• Beans
• Peas
• Alfalfa
• Prairie Clover
• Clover
• Wild Indigo

Nectar Plants:

• Nectar from various flowers
  • Milkweeds
  • Lantana
  • Petunia
  • Verbena
  • Coreopsis
  • Mistflower
  • Purple Coneflower
  • Buttonbush
  • Goldenrods