Queen Alexandra's Sulphur
Colias alexandra W.H. Edwards, 1863
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upper surface of male bright yellow with pale yellow at wing bases; wings edged by narrow black border crossed by yellow veins; cell spot small. Female yellow, sometimes white, with forewing border faded or absent. Underside of hindwing of both sexes green-gray; cell spot white with no surrounding ring.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 2 1/4 inches (4.2 - 5.7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol open areas for females. Eggs are laid singly on top of host plant leaves, which the caterpillars eat. Late-stage caterpillars overwinter.
Flight: One flight from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including milk vetch (Astragalus), Lupines (Lupinus), and clover (Trifolium) species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including blanket flower, milk vetches, and others.
Habitat: Road edges, fields, meadows, sagebrush flats.
Range: British Columbia south and east to eastern California, Arizona and New Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Not reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 73 - 96 of 417 verified sightings
Observation date: May 06, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (C. S. Lawson)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jul 20, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John B. Vernon)
Region: Humboldt County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 29, 1979
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 01, 1987
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Wayne Dawes)
Region: Esmeralda County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 22, 1978
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 27, 1992
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce Boyd)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Oct 15, 1977
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (George T. Austin)
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Dec 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 21, 2012
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 23, 2012
Observation date: Jun 12, 2011
Submitted by: carlakish
Region: Coconino County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 12, 2012
Observation date: Jul 29, 2012
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 17, 2012
Observation date: Jul 27, 2012
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Lincoln County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 17, 2012
Observation date: Jul 14, 2012
Submitted by: swimperi
Region: Gilpin County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 04, 2012
Submitted by: apocewicz
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 25, 2012
Observation date: Jul 19, 2012
Submitted by: plex1ppus
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 23, 2012
Observation date: Jun 08, 2012
Submitted by: carrie.munill
Region: Baker County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: danaross
Verified date: Jun 19, 2012
Observation date: Jul 12, 2009
Submitted by: hjbarkey9
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 16, 2012
Observation date: Sep 20, 2011
Submitted by: AJBrumble
Region: Valley County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: kent
Verified date: Feb 08, 2012
Observation date: Jul 23, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John B. Vernon)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 14, 2008
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Elko County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Jun 08, 1994
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John B. Vernon)
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Aug 01, 1980
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Clifford D. Ferris)
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: Apr 29, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John B. Vernon)
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 01, 2012
Observation date: May 25, 2009
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl...
Region: Utah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 24, 2011
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: RaisingButterfl... (Todd Stout)
Region: Juab County, Utah, United States
Verified by: BAMONA
Verified date: Aug 24, 2011
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