Alfalfa or Little Yellow
(Eurema lisa)
Identification
The upperside of Alfalfa male has a yellow forewing with a wide black apex. The hindwing has a black border. The female Alfalfa has a yellow or white (rare) wing with a black border. Both sexes have a small black spot in the forewing cell. The typical butterfly wingspan is 1 1/4 to 1 3/4 inches (3.2 -4.4.cm).
The caterpillar is bright grass green with one or two white lines along each side.
Habitat
The Alfalfa butterfly prefers dry and open areas including roadsides, sandy fields, abandoned fields and occasionally open woods.
Food
The caterpillar eats Partridge Pea and Wild Sensitive plant in the pea family (Fabaceae). The butterfly feeds on nectar from flowers in the aster family (Asteraceae) including goldenrods and asters.
Life Cycle
The males patrol for females during warm daylight hours. Females lay eggs singly on midveins or between leaflets of host plant leaves.
Remarks
Regular migrant to Bermuda. To attract the Alfalfa Butterfly plant Wild Sensitive plant, Goldenrod and Asters.