Mead's Sulphur
Colias meadii W.H. Edwards, 1871
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upperside of male deep reddish orange with wide, dull black border; female lighter orange, border containing orange spots. Underside of both sexes greenish-yellow, with hindwing white spot circled in red.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 inches (3.8 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Males patrol open tundra for females. Females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves, which are then eaten by the caterpillars. Third-stage caterpillars overwinter.
Flight: One flight from July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including clover (Trifolium) and Astragalus species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar including alpine sunflower and asters.
Habitat: At or near treeline in high mountains, tundra, subalpine meadows.
Range: Restricted to the Rocky Mountains from Alberta south to Colorado.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 119 verified sightings
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Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1110275.jpg?itok=Cq-VNQEw)
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 28, 2024
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2070_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii_along_glacier_lake_trail3.jpg?itok=uXY1JYLA)
Observation date: Aug 26, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/meads_sulphur_img_8138.jpg?itok=jQKAurzI)
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/meads_sulphur_img_7269.jpg?itok=g8S1WLEf)
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_1225_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii_wy.jpg?itok=KoM6_3lh)
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 10, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2000_sulphur_colias.jpg?itok=kFs5vhbS)
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: May 09, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2642_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii_along_unofficial_trail_mt.jpg?itok=HWweZRrI)
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Apr 24, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2371_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii.jpg?itok=Hch-SJew)
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 14, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3034_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii_along_arrowhead_lake_climbers_trail.jpg?itok=JsJj41Xu)
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Sublette County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 14, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/20210801145123_0a1a3557.jpg?itok=35dTRxJR)
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 11, 2023
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_3049_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii.jpg?itok=-02QDPHS)
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 28, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2799_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii.jpg?itok=Ga_X0jwN)
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2501_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii.jpg?itok=vr9p7940)
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2872_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii_along_line_creek_plateau_trail10_wy.jpg?itok=fghnzVvi)
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/white_butterfly_08292022_independence_pass.jpg?itok=E9fWWew4)
Observation date: Aug 29, 2022
Submitted by: DebraRade
Region: Lake County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 02, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_8936_5.jpg?itok=XaRiIidn)
Observation date: Aug 14, 2022
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/yellow_8.jpg?itok=NqLn6C8a)
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/p1280189.jpg?itok=ulGDSoxs)
Observation date: Jul 26, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 11, 2022
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_2065_meads_sulphur_colias_meadii.jpg?itok=7JMmtOT8)
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 18, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/img_5071_4.jpg?itok=Ep5H956-)
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: mongoose
Region: Glacier County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 08, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/meads_sulphur_0.jpg?itok=TnaqAXfC)
Observation date: Jul 31, 2021
Submitted by: bjones7777
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 08, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/meads_sulfur_3_at_latir_lakes_in_taos_county_nm_on_7-26-2021-6341.jpg?itok=4JfSO5pO)
Observation date: Jul 26, 2021
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2021
![](https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/sites/default/files/styles/bamona_scale_and_crop_640px_by_640px/public/bamona_images/meads_sulfur_near_wheeler_peak_in_taos_county_nm_on_8-4-2020-1780.jpg?itok=7g2J9wyg)
Observation date: Aug 04, 2020
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 29, 2021
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