# Sleepy Orange

*Eurema nicippe*

The 'sleepy' in its name likely refers to the dark, closed-eye-like spots on its underwings, rather than its rapid, erratic flight.

- **Taxonomy:** Animalia › Arthropoda › Insecta › Lepidoptera › Pieridae › Eurema
- **IUCN Red List status:** Least Concern
- **Population trend:** stable
- **Biome:** grassland
- **Habitat:** Disturbed open areas, fields, roadsides, pastures, and wet meadows.
- **Diet:** Adults drink nectar from flowers like shepherd's needle and marigolds; caterpillars feed on Senna (cassia) species.
- **Range:** North America, Central America, Caribbean
- **Size:** Wingspan of 3.5 to 5.7 cm (1.4 to 2.2 inches).
- **Lifespan:** 2 to 3 weeks as an active adult, though overwintering generations can live for several months.
- **Active:** diurnal
- **Threats:** Habitat destruction, widespread pesticide use, and premature mowing of host plants.
- **Safe to approach?:** Completely harmless and safe to observe. Avoid handling to protect their delicate wings. If wing scales rub off on your skin, simply wash with soap and water.

## About

Eurema nicippe , the sleepy orange , is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is also found in the West Indies, Costa Rica and Belize.

## Sources

- Plate: https://gaia-dex.com/species/4d1e277d-b792-4e53-9bba-274d79d18cd6
- iNaturalist: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/67439
- Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurema_nicippe
- Conservation status: IUCN Red List category, as recorded by Gaia-Dex
- Photo: https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/156681641/medium.jpg (DiegoH, CC-BY, via iNaturalist)

Habitat, diet, size and similar notes are AI-written summaries; check them against the linked sources before relying on them.