Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice Godart, 1819
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upper surface of male wings bright, clear yellow with solid black edging; lower side of forewing with some dark submarginal spots; hindwing with silver cell spot rimmed with orange-pink, usually doubled. Female has 2 forms: yellow form with uneven black edging enclosing yellow spots, and a white form which is greenish-white rather than yellow. Spring and fall forms are smaller and less conspicuously marked.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 3/4 inches (3.8 - 7 cm).
Life History: Eggs laid singly on host; caterpillars eat leaves. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars.
Flight: Three flights in the north from May-October, 4-5 in the south from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including alfalfa (Medicago sativa), white clover (Trifolium repens), and pea (Pisum sativum).
Adult Food: Flower nectar of many plants.
Habitat: Many different open areas including fields, lawns, alfalfa and clover fields, road edges, meadows.
Range: Alaska south through central and southeast Canada, all of conterminous United states except much of California, south Texas, and most of Florida.
Conservation: Not 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 25 - 48 of 13002 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 02, 2024
Submitted by: James F Parker
Region: Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 08, 2024
Observation date: Oct 05, 2024
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 06, 2024
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 29, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 25, 2024
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Clinton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 23, 2024
Observation date: Sep 20, 2024
Submitted by: Kentonky41015
Region: Kenton County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 20, 2024
Observation date: Sep 15, 2024
Submitted by: trever
Region: Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 18, 2024
Observation date: Sep 06, 2024
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 05, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 13, 2024
Observation date: Aug 04, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 13, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 22, 2024
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 30, 2024
Observation date: Aug 27, 2024
Submitted by: canocker
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2024
Submitted by: Eddie Wyatt
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 15, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 08, 2024
Submitted by: jcarter
Region: Nova Scotia, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Preston County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
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