Sleepy Orange

Eurema nicippe

One of the most interesting things about the Sleepy Orange butterfly is its ability to adapt to different environments. Despite being native to the southern United States and parts of South America, these butterflies can also be found in other parts of the world, including Africa and Asia. In the Sonoran Desert, the Sleepy Orange butterfly has evolved to survive in one of the harshest environments on earth.

The life cycle of the Sleepy Orange butterfly is a complex and fascinating process. It starts with the female butterfly laying her eggs on the leaves of a host plant, which is usually a member of the legume family. Once the eggs hatch, the larvae begin to feed on the leaves and grow rapidly over the course of several weeks.

As the larvae mature, they undergo several molts before eventually pupating. The pupa, or chrysalis, is a hardened casing that protects the developing butterfly inside. After a few weeks, the adult butterfly emerges from the chrysalis, ready to mate and start the process anew.

The Sleepy Orange butterfly plays an important role in the ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert. As pollinators, they help to ensure the survival of many plant species in the region. They also serve as a source of food for predators such as birds and lizards, which helps to maintain a balance in the ecosystem.

In order to support the growth and development of this species, it is important to provide the right types of host plants. Here are some of the larval host plants for the Sleepy Orange butterfly in a low desert garden:

1. Desert Senna, also known as Senna covesii, is a great host plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly. It is a beautiful, low-growing shrub that produces yellow flowers and is native to the southwestern United States.
2. Black Dalea – Black Dalea, also known as Dalea frutescens, is a beautiful and hardy shrub that is native to the southwestern United States. It produces beautiful purple flowers and is a great host plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly.
3. Sonoran Kidneywood – Kidneywood, also known as Eysenhardtia orthocarpa, is a small tree that produces beautiful white and purple flowers. It is a great host plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its ability to attract other pollinators as well.
4. Baja Fairy Duster – Baja Fairy Duster, also known as Calliandra californica, is a beautiful and hardy shrub that produces bright red flowers. It is a great host plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its ability to attract other pollinators as well.
5. Velvet Mesquite – Velvet Mesquite, also known as Prosopis velutina, is a beautiful and hardy tree that is native to the southwestern United States. It produces beautiful yellow flowers and is a great host plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly.
6. Foothills Palo Verde – Foothills Palo Verde, also known as Parkinsonia microphylla, is a small tree that produces beautiful yellow flowers. It is a popular host plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its ability to attract other pollinators as well.
7. Desert Hackberry – Desert Hackberry, also known as Celtis pallida, is a small tree that produces beautiful white flowers. It is a great host plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its ability to attract other pollinators as well.

If you’re looking to attract the Sleepy Orange butterfly to your Phoenix Arizona pollinator garden, then you’ll want to make sure you have plenty of nectar plants on hand. These plants provide the essential nutrients the butterfly needs to survive and thrive, and can help support a healthy and vibrant ecosystem. Here are some of the favorite nectar plants for the Sleepy Orange butterfly in a Phoenix Arizona pollinator garden:

1. Mexican Bird of Paradise – Mexican Bird of Paradise, also known as Caesalpinia mexicana, is a beautiful and hardy shrub that produces bright yellow flowers. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its high nectar content and easy accessibility for the butterfly.
2. Lantana – Lantana, also known as Lantana camara, is a popular and easy-to-grow shrub that produces beautiful flowers in a range of colors, including yellow, orange, and pink. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its long bloom time and high nectar content.
3. Desert Marigold – Desert Marigold, also known as Baileya multiradiata, is a beautiful and hardy wildflower that produces bright yellow flowers. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its long bloom time and high nectar content.
4. Yellow Bells – Yellow Bells, also known as Tecoma stans, is a popular and easy-to-grow shrub that produces bright yellow flowers. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its high nectar content and easy accessibility for the butterfly.
5. Butterfly Weed – Butterfly Weed, also known as Asclepias tuberosa, is a beautiful and hardy perennial that produces bright orange flowers. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly, as well as other butterfly species, due to its high nectar content and importance as a host plant for butterfly larvae.
6. Desert Willow – Desert Willow, also known as Chilopsis linearis, is a beautiful and hardy tree that produces beautiful pink and purple flowers. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its high nectar content and easy accessibility for the butterfly.
7. Desert Globe Mallow – Globe Mallow, also known as Sphaeralcea ambigua, is a beautiful and hardy wildflower that produces bright orange flowers. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its long bloom time and high nectar content.
8. Tecoma stans – Orange Jubilee is a beautiful and hardy shrub that produces tubular orange flowers. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its high nectar content and easy accessibility for the butterfly.
9. Desert (Rush) Milkweed – Rush Milkweed, also known as Asclepias subulata, is a beautiful and hardy perennial that produces white and pink flowers. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly, as well as other butterfly species, due to its high nectar content and importance as a host plant for butterfly larvae.
10. Agave – Agave is a popular and easy-to-grow succulent that produces tall spikes of beautiful flowers in a range of colors. It is a favorite nectar plant for the Sleepy Orange butterfly due to its high nectar content and importance as a source of moisture for the butterfly.

For more information, see the Butterflies and Moths of North America page.