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 12935 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 22, 2025
Submitted by: AzarNick
Region: Pettis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 23, 2025
Observation date: Sep 17, 2025
Submitted by: karin_k
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 21, 2025
Observation date: Sep 14, 2025
Submitted by: snarfing
Region: Nassau County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 14, 2025
Observation date: Sep 14, 2025
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Sierra County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 14, 2025
Observation date: Aug 13, 2025
Submitted by: HansPG
Region: Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 13, 2025
Observation date: Sep 10, 2025
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Defiance County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Sep 12, 2025
Observation date: Aug 20, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 09, 2025
Observation date: Jun 20, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2025
Submitted by: dnight30
Region: Carroll County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Sep 02, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Aug 26, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 14, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2025
Observation date: Aug 02, 2020
Submitted by: Rgilson
Region: Sublette County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2025
Observation date: Aug 31, 2025
Submitted by: psmith
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 22, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Hamilton County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 18, 2025
Submitted by: Emma Heim
Region: Stearns County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 20, 2025
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Sandoval County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Craighead County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 16, 2025
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
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