Southern Dogface (Zerene cesonia) is in the Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs family (Pieridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 9,403 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in October.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Southern Dogface: observations by month (U.S.)
About Southern Dogface
Zerene cesonia, the southern dogface, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae (until recently the species was sometimes placed in the related genus Colias instead of Zerene).From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Southern Dogface by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 6,441 | October | Oct–Nov |
| Arizona | 1,484 | October | Aug–Nov |
| Florida | 297 | April | Apr–Nov |
| New Mexico | 210 | October | Jul–Nov |
| Tennessee | 150 | June | May–Oct |
| Arkansas | 143 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 96 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Ohio | 87 | September | Aug–Sep |
| Illinois | 66 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Missouri | 63 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Louisiana | 62 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Georgia | 60 | October | Sep–Nov |
| Mississippi | 48 | July | Jun–Oct |
| California | 47 | April | Mar–Jul |
| Alabama | 40 | August | May–Oct |
| South Carolina | 37 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Colorado | 13 | July | Jul–Jul |
| Kentucky | 13 | October | Sep–Oct |
| Kansas | 12 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Indiana | 10 | September | Aug–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 7 | September | Sep–Sep |
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
Sleepy Orange
Checkered White
Dainty Sulphur
Little Yellow
Clouded Sulphur
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 Southern Dogface?
Nationally, October has the most observations, with the main season from September to November.
Where is Southern Dogface most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, Arizona, Florida.