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 73 - 96 of 12826 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 19, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 18, 2024
Submitted by: BuffyDFW
Region: Dallas County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 19, 2024
Observation date: Jun 14, 2024
Submitted by: cjlunden
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 18, 2024
Observation date: May 31, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Rosa Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 09, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 12, 2024
Observation date: Jun 06, 2024
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: Jun 05, 2024
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Napa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 06, 2024
Observation date: May 25, 2024
Submitted by: merops
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 05, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 01, 2024
Observation date: May 11, 2024
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 01, 2024
Observation date: May 29, 2024
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 30, 2024
Observation date: May 19, 2024
Submitted by: pjharvey07
Region: Franklin County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Jun 30, 2023
Submitted by: pamelmmc
Region: James City County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: EddieGarrity
Region: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Oct 11, 2022
Submitted by: EddieGarrity
Region: Alexandria, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Aug 19, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: Sep 30, 2023
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 23, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 08, 2023
Submitted by: Susan McSwain
Region: Nelson County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 22, 2024
Observation date: May 21, 2024
Submitted by: James Steen
Region: Harper County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 21, 2024
Observation date: May 17, 2024
Submitted by: sgensits
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 19, 2024
Observation date: May 15, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2024
Observation date: May 15, 2024
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Texas, Nueces County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2024
Observation date: May 14, 2024
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 16, 2024
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