Dainty Sulphur Nathalis iole Boisduval, 1836    Synonyms: Dainty Sulfur, Hodges #4248.
Kingdom Animalia   >   Phylum Arthropoda   >   Class Insecta   >   Order Lepidoptera   >   Family Pieridae   >   Genus Nathalis   

Status:

Dainty Sulphur (Nathalis iole), the smallest species of sulphur in North America, was only recently recorded in Maryland in 2012, when a significant irruption event led to numerous sightings across several states. This tiny butterfly is found primarily in the deep south, but irrupts northwards into the Great Plains and portions of the West annually, where it does not overwinter successfully. It flies low in a wide range of open habitats (Butterflies of Maryland: A Biological Summary and Checklist by Lynn Davidson & Richard Smith; Brock & Kaufman 2003; BAMONA site.

Relationships:

Uses a variety of Asteraceae as larval food plants.

There are 25 records in the project database.

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A Dainty Sulphur in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/3/2012). A first state record found by Dave Czaplak! Dave first glimpsed one individual on 7/29 but returned on 8/3 and found at least six. Even smaller than our irruptive Little Yellows, Dainty Sulphurs are the smallest sulphur species in the U.S. They are present in much of the Great Plains and Southwest, as well as the Southeast. Photo by Dave Czaplak. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/3/2012). Photo by Dave Czaplak. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/3/2012). Photo by Dave Czaplak. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Montgomery Co., Maryland (8/4/2012). Photo by Jim Brighton. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Prince George's Co., Maryland (10/5/2012). Determined by John S. Ascher/BugGuide. Photo by Barbara Thurlow. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Howard Co., Maryland (9/27/2019). Photo by Sue Muller. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Howard Co., Maryland (9/18/2019). Photo by Annette Allor. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/16/2019). Photo by Annette Allor. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Baltimore Co., Maryland (9/17/2019). Photo by Howard Patterson. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/18/2012). This is the second record for Maryland, closely following Dave Czaplak's find in Montgomery Co. (8/3/2012). Photo by Mikey Lutmerding. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur continuing at Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/21/2012). Photo by Bill Sherman. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Howard Co., Maryland (9/18/2019). Photo by Annette Allor. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Howard Co., Maryland (9/18/2019). Photo by Annette Allor. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulfur continuing in Prince George's Co., Maryland (8/26/2012). Photo by Bill Hubick. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Anne Arundel Co., Maryland (9/12/2012). The species was found near Jug Bay by Sue Ricciardi and Danny Bystrak. As of today (9/13/2012), Maryland now has five counties with records of this species. Photo by Sue Ricciardi. (MBP list)

A Dainty Sulphur in Charles Co., Maryland (6/19/2012). This sighting actually predated Czaplak's Montgomery record, but wasn't widely known until later. Photo by Tom Ostrowski. (MBP list)


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