Eurema messalina

Shy yellow
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pieridae
Genus:	Eurema
Species:	E. messalina
Binomial name
	Eurema messalina; (Fabricius, 1787)
Synonyms
	Papilio messalina Fabricius, 1787; Pyrisitia messalina; Terias bulaea Boisduval, 1836; Terias gnathene Boisduval, [1836]; Terias iradia Poey, [1852]; Terias blakei Maynard, 1891;

Eurema messalina, the shy yellow, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is native to the West Indies, but a very rare stray may be found in southern Florida. The habitat consists of shady, brushy areas.^[2]

The wingspan is 26–38 mm (1.0–1.5 in). Both sexes are creamy white. Males have black borders on the outer edges of both wings and females have a black apex. Males also have a pink bar on the underside of the forewing that fades after death. Adults are on wing from May to August and in February. Adults feed on flower nectar.^[2]

The larvae feed on Desmodium and Cassia species.^[2]

References

^ Eurema, Site of Markku Savela
^ ^a ^b ^c Butterflies and Moths of North America

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[funet-1] Eurema, Site of Markku Savela

[bamona-2] Butterflies and Moths of North America

[1]

[2]