Diet

• Caterpillars: Feed primarily on legumes (Fabaceae), especially sensitive plant (Mimosa pudica).

• Adults: Feed on nectar from a variety of flowering plants.

Range

• The Mimosa Yellow occurs from Argentina north through tropical and subtropical South America, Central America, and Mexico to southern Texas and Florida. It also occurs on several Caribbean islands.

• Guerrero is within its range, and it occurs in suitable warm habitats of western Mexico. It can be found in the Zihua area, particularly around woodland edges and areas supporting Mimosa and other leguminous host plants.

Habitat

• Usually associated with brushy woodland edges, subtropical forest margins, scrub, shaded clearings, ravines, roadsides, and adjacent grassland.

• Unlike some of the more strongly open-country yellows, it often flies low beneath or along the edges of woodland, where its host plants grow.

Description

• A small to medium-sized yellow, with a wingspan of approximately 29–51 mm, although individuals toward the smaller end of this range are common.

• The upper surface is lemon yellow. The forewing has a relatively narrow black outer margin, while the hindwing generally has little or no black marginal marking, particularly in females.

• Males typically have more extensive dark scaling on the forewing and may show a subtle dark "dog's-head" pattern near the leading edge. Females usually have a blackish forewing apex but lack the broad hindwing border found in some related yellows.

• The underside is yellow with small reddish-brown spots and streaks, giving a more mottled appearance when the butterfly is perched with its wings closed.