page_title: Aphrissa statira
section_title: Caterpillars
hierarchical_section_title: Aphrissa statira / Social behavior / Caterpillars
caption_attribution_description: English: Puddling butterflies, including Stratia sulphur (Aphrissa statira); Straight-line sulphur (Rhabdodryas trite); and Apricot Sulphur (Phoebis argante), Cristalino River, Southern Amazon, Brazil
context_page_description: Aphrissa statira, the statira sulphur, is a species of Lepidoptera in the family Pieridae. The species is a medium-sized yellow butterfly, with females more pale than males. They are found from southern regions of Florida and Texas through southern Brazil and northern Argentina. The caterpillars feed on the leaves of several local host plants, while adults prefer to feed on the nectar of red or orange colored flowers. The species is most noted for their dramatic migrations in the tropical areas of the Americas. They have been the subject of many studies about how butterflies navigate and orient during migration.
context_section_description: Caterpillars often form very large populations, which then damages their host plants. They may cluster into dense populations along with other species to take advantage of the safety that comes with large numbers. The diversity of caterpillar species in the area can help divert predators to other species. Further, the excess of caterpillars can help prevent the majority from being eaten.
caption: Statira sulphur form into groups, here with the straight-line sulphur (Rhabdodryas trite) and the apricot sulphur (Phoebis argante), along the Cristalino River in the Southern Amazon region of Brazil.
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