Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)

Statewide, and common to abundant (but less common in the mountains), this species is multibrooded in NC, flying from early Spring into early Winter. It is found in a variety of habitats from gardens, powerlines, and woodland borders to ag fields, especially soybean.
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)

Many fall / winter color form shows rich brick-orange undersides


Chatham Co., NC
19 Oct 2005
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)

Photographed in flight at 1/1000 sec to show topside of wing. Sleepy Oranges are named after the forewing eyespot which looks "closed" or "sleepy".


Chatham Co., NC
20 Oct 2006
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
Nectaring on White Clover (Trifolium repens)
Washington Co., NC
21 June 2003.		 Nectaring on Aster grandiflorus
Chatham Co., NC
2 Nov 2003
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
Chatham Co., NC
26 Sep 2004		 This runt was barely larger than a Little Yellow
Chatham Co., NC
20 Oct 2006
Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe)
Pettigrew State Park, Washington Co., NC
21 June 2006		 Pettigrew State Park, Washington Co., NC
21 June 2006

North Carolina Butterflies | North American Butterflies | Jeff's Nature Page

Created on ... June 26, 2003 | Updated on ... January 25, 2006 | jspippen@duke.edu