Orange Sulphur
Colias eurytheme Boisduval, 1852
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Quite variable. Upperside of male yellow with orange overlay, yellow veins, wide black border, and dark black cell spot. Female yellow or white with irregular black border surrounding light spots. Underside hindwing spot silver with 2 concentric dark rings, and a spot above it.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 2 3/4 inches (3.5 - 7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for receptive females, who lay eggs singly on top of host plant leaves. Most feeding takes place at night. Young caterpillars chew holes in the tops of leaves, then later feed from the leaf tip. Older caterpillars eat half of the leaf before moving to the other half. Chrysalids overwinter.
Flight: Two-three flights in the north from June-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 white sweet clover (Melilotus alba).
Adult Food: Nectar from many kinds of flowers including dandelion, milkweeds, goldenrods, and asters.
Habitat: A wide variety of open sites, especially clover and alfalfa fields, mowed fields, vacant lots, meadows, road edges.
Range: Southern Canada to central Mexico, coast to coast in the United States except for the Florida peninsula. Comments: One of the most widespread and common butterflies in North America.
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: Caterpillars can be very destructive in alfalfa fields.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 97 - 120 of 12809 verified sightings
Observation date: Oct 10, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 12, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2023
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 01, 2024
Observation date: Aug 04, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Day County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2024
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Marshall County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 18, 2024
Observation date: Sep 02, 2023
Submitted by: Ofbirdsandprey
Region: Solano County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 25, 2023
Observation date: Dec 21, 2023
Submitted by: MECobarruvias
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 22, 2023
Observation date: Dec 20, 2023
Submitted by: MECobarruvias
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Dec 20, 2023
Observation date: Dec 17, 2023
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Dec 19, 2023
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: heinert
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Nov 24, 2023
Observation date: Nov 13, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 15, 2023
Observation date: Nov 06, 2023
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 15, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2023
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Cook County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 11, 2023
Observation date: Nov 08, 2023
Submitted by: kristenej
Region: New Castle County, Delaware, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 10, 2023
Observation date: Nov 08, 2023
Submitted by: greggra
Region: Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Nov 10, 2023
Observation date: Nov 05, 2023
Submitted by: Ghesser
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Oct 26, 2023
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 07, 2023
Observation date: Oct 31, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 31, 2023
Observation date: Oct 13, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2023
Observation date: Oct 20, 2023
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Clark County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2019
Submitted by: rajanrao
Region: Fall River County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 15, 2023
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 22, 2023
Observation date: Oct 15, 2023
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 22, 2023
Observation date: Sep 21, 2020
Submitted by: Doug Nettleton
Region: Otter Tail County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 19, 2023
Observation date: Oct 15, 2023
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 19, 2023
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