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 73 - 96 of 13002 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 08, 2023
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
Observation date: Jul 30, 2013
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Wilson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 26, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Brown County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2023
Submitted by: fossbucklefarm
Region: Genesee County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: elsner
Verified date: Jan 17, 2024
Observation date: Nov 08, 2023
Submitted by: jyasmeen
Region: El Paso County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 08, 2023
Observation date: Aug 26, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Oct 04, 2023
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 13, 2023
Observation date: Oct 12, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 12, 2023
Observation date: Sep 22, 2023
Submitted by: Jorie
Region: Fayette County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 26, 2023
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Glacier County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 28, 2023
Observation date: Jul 14, 2021
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Roberts County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 24, 2018
Submitted by: Melinda Fawver
Region: Nome, Alaska, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: jsaunders260
Region: Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 19, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gibson
Region: Matanuska-Susitna, Alaska, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Jul 05, 2020
Submitted by: Mcueva
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 20, 2023
Observation date: Sep 14, 2023
Submitted by: NBeaty
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Sep 15, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 12, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2023
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 10, 2023
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: HimmelBerries
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2023
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Jul 14, 2023
Submitted by: Emick
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
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