Small and yellow with black rims on the top of their wings, Barred Yellow (Eurema daira) butterflies are tiny yellow butterflies that fly low around our ankles and knees as we walk through the grass and fields.

Barred Yellow butterflies are found in the southern half of the United States.

They host on several plants in the pea family including Shy Leaf, Aeschynomene viscidula.

Although Shy Leaf seed resembles beggar weed seed, the seed of this host plant will not stick to clothing.

The tiny coral flowers are barely noticeable.

Barred Yellow male butterflies have an unusual courtship dance. The male continually raises his wing over the female, up and down, repeatedly.

Tiny white eggs are laid on the leaves of their host plants.

The microscopic hatchlings begin eating leaves and grow for about two weeks.

Caterpillars are light to medium green, the same color as the leaves of their host plants. They lay along the veins of the leaves while they are at rest.

At the end of two weeks, they attach themselves in a ) shape, supported in their middle by a girdle of silk.

After a day, they pupate (change into a chrysalis) by literally wriggling out of their skins.

Barred Yellow butterflies drink nectar from small short-necked flowers. Their proboscises are too short to reach the nectar in flowers with long throats.