Sleepy Orange (Eurema nicippe) is in the Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs family (Pieridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 32,787 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in August.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Sleepy Orange: observations by month (U.S.)
About Sleepy Orange
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.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Sleepy Orange by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 11,600 | October | Sep–Dec |
| Arizona | 3,149 | September | Jul–Nov |
| North Carolina | 2,627 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Georgia | 1,901 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Virginia | 1,893 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Florida | 1,728 | August | Jun–Nov |
| Alabama | 1,672 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Maryland | 1,193 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 1,081 | August | Jul–Sep |
| South Carolina | 989 | September | Jul–Oct |
| New Mexico | 897 | July | May–Oct |
| Arkansas | 518 | August | Jun–Oct |
| California | 503 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Louisiana | 402 | September | Jul–Dec |
| Hawaii | 311 | March | Oct–Jul |
| Mississippi | 311 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 307 | September | May–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 281 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Missouri | 247 | September | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 206 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Kentucky | 132 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Kansas | 129 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Ohio | 129 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Delaware | 106 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Illinois | 105 | July | Jul–Aug |
| West Virginia | 85 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Nevada | 81 | September | Sep–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 58 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Colorado | 44 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Nebraska | 27 | July | Jun–Aug |
| Indiana | 25 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Iowa | 20 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Utah | 10 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 8 | August | Aug–Aug |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs)
Small White
Orange Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur
Checkered White
Dainty Sulphur
Little Yellow
Clouded Sulphur
Southern Dogface
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Sleepy Orange?
Nationally, August has the most observations, with the main season from June to November.
Where is Sleepy Orange most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Arizona, North Carolina.