Upperside of male forewing yellow with black bar along inner edge and a large black area at apex. In southern Florida, some individuals have white hindwings. Females lay single eggs on the terminal growth of host plants.
Caterpillars eat leaves.
Non-reproductive dry season adults overwinter. Throughout the year in the Deep South, late summer and fall as vagrant. Nectar from a great variety of flowers including joint vetches and shepherd's needle. G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. The butterflies of Costa Rica and their natural history.