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 25 - 48 of 12816 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 25, 2024
Observation date: Jul 25, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 22, 2024
Observation date: Sep 03, 2024
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Saunders County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 16, 2024
Observation date: Aug 05, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 03, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 15, 2024
Observation date: Jul 18, 2024
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 14, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 12, 2024
Observation date: Sep 05, 2024
Submitted by: Buddy Mays
Region: Linn County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Sep 01, 2024
Submitted by: SnowshoeLane
Region: Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 05, 2024
Observation date: Aug 19, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 28, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2024
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: Chrustay
Region: De Baca County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 15, 2018
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Hamlin County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Sep 26, 2018
Submitted by: Puccini
Region: Codington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Aug 21, 2024
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 22, 2024
Observation date: Aug 12, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Rich County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 13, 2024
Observation date: Jun 04, 2015
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 13, 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 04, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: Jun 11, 2022
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 05, 2024
Observation date: Jul 30, 2024
Submitted by: jthompson6112
Region: Ontario County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 04, 2024
Observation date: Sep 18, 2023
Submitted by: Gotrilobite
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 29, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
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