If you’ve ever watched a bright yellow flutter drift across a meadow or roadside in Tobago, you’ve likely met one of the island’s Sulphur Butterflies, little pieces of sunshine come to life.
They dance above open fields, gardens, and forest edges, their golden wings catching the Caribbean light like sparks of joy. Some glow a deep orange at the edges, others shimmer pale lemon, but all share that same restless energy, a heartbeat of colour against Tobago’s blue skies.
These butterflies are constant travellers, gliding with purpose as if they carry the island’s warmth wherever they go. Their story begins on the humble Senna plant, where tiny green caterpillars feed on tender leaves before transforming into the radiant adults we see in flight.
From the Main Ridge Forest Reserve to coastal roads in Crown Point, Sulphurs are among Tobago’s most faithful companions, always nearby, though rarely still. Their migrations follow the rhythm of the seasons, a reminder that even the smallest creatures move with the island’s natural pulse.
So next time you see one flash by, don’t just let it pass.
Pause, watch, and remember: sometimes, Tobago’s sunshine doesn’t come from the sky.