Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice Godart, 1819
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upper surface of male wings bright, clear yellow with solid black edging; lower side of forewing with some dark submarginal spots; hindwing with silver cell spot rimmed with orange-pink, usually doubled. Female has 2 forms: yellow form with uneven black edging enclosing yellow spots, and a white form which is greenish-white rather than yellow. Spring and fall forms are smaller and less conspicuously marked.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 3/4 inches (3.8 - 7 cm).
Life History: Eggs laid singly on host; caterpillars eat leaves. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars.
Flight: Three flights in the north from May-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 pea (Pisum sativum).
Adult Food: Flower nectar of many plants.
Habitat: Many different open areas including fields, lawns, alfalfa and clover fields, road edges, meadows.
Range: Alaska south through central and southeast Canada, all of conterminous United states except much of California, south Texas, and most of Florida.
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: Not reported.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 12934 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: HimmelBerries
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2023
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 02, 2023
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Jul 14, 2023
Submitted by: Emick
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 31, 2023
Observation date: Aug 28, 2023
Submitted by: rapids
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 28, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 24, 2017
Submitted by: mhearell
Region: Weber County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 22, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2020
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jul 11, 2017
Submitted by: DonDeCamp
Region: Uintah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 20, 2023
Observation date: Aug 17, 2023
Submitted by: vogelbild
Region: DuPage County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 19, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Aug 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 09, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 14, 2023
Observation date: Aug 11, 2023
Submitted by: Bombyx-Aurelia
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2023
Observation date: Jun 09, 2023
Submitted by: sbishop7
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Aug 06, 2023
Observation date: Aug 05, 2023
Submitted by: TJ in Derry
Region: Rockingham County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 01, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 24, 2023
Observation date: Jul 13, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 19, 2023
Observation date: Jul 10, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: Chet Gottfried
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2023
Submitted by: Thomas J. Ryder
Region: Fremont County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 08, 2023
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 10, 2023
Observation date: Aug 07, 2020
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Overton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 06, 2023
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