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.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 11955 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 25, 2019
Submitted by: Mark Duigon
Region: York County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 09, 2019
Observation date: Aug 01, 2019
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: A_baldini
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Aug 30, 2019
Submitted by: Christine Stanke
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Sep 07, 2019
Submitted by: davek
Region: Chester County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 08, 2019
Observation date: Sep 03, 2019
Submitted by: marsrover
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 07, 2019
Observation date: Sep 04, 2019
Submitted by: Jupiterz7
Region: Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 06, 2019
Observation date: Sep 05, 2019
Submitted by: br.robi
Region: Kalamazoo County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Sep 05, 2019
Observation date: Jul 30, 2019
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Sep 02, 2019
Submitted by: Mendrola
Region: Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 03, 2019
Observation date: Aug 31, 2019
Submitted by: RMarkows
Region: Nassau County, New York, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 31, 2019
Observation date: Aug 22, 2019
Submitted by: marsrover
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 29, 2019
Observation date: Aug 22, 2019
Submitted by: marsrover
Region: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 29, 2019
Observation date: Aug 26, 2019
Submitted by: Rjfischer
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 29, 2019
Observation date: Aug 26, 2019
Submitted by: Jdammarell
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 28, 2019
Observation date: Aug 27, 2019
Submitted by: WINGSaloftinKS
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Aug 27, 2019
Observation date: Aug 21, 2019
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 25, 2019
Observation date: Aug 22, 2019
Submitted by: Bluefox122
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 22, 2019
Observation date: Aug 18, 2019
Submitted by: Bob Crowley
Region: Oxford County, Maine, United States
Verified by: rosslayberry
Verified date: Aug 21, 2019
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: montejosh
Region: Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 20, 2019
Observation date: Aug 18, 2019
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 19, 2019
Observation date: Aug 18, 2019
Submitted by: Josef Benevengo
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 18, 2019
Observation date: Aug 15, 2019
Submitted by: Ohio97
Region: Montgomery County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 15, 2019
Observation date: Aug 11, 2019
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 14, 2019
Observation date: Jul 23, 2019
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Crook County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 14, 2019
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