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 49 - 72 of 12935 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 07, 2020
Submitted by: Tommie Rogers
Region: Overton County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jul 06, 2023
Observation date: Jun 05, 2023
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: St. Louis County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 30, 2023
Observation date: Aug 25, 2018
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 26, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Douglas County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: Jun 17, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 19, 2023
Observation date: Mar 20, 2023
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 11, 2023
Observation date: May 24, 2023
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 04, 2023
Observation date: May 24, 2023
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 25, 2023
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: katiefouse
Region: Sublette County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: May 01, 2023
Observation date: Apr 25, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 27, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Apr 24, 2023
Observation date: Apr 18, 2023
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Wichita County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 18, 2023
Observation date: Jul 18, 2017
Submitted by: catbirdcat
Region: Carroll County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 17, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Apr 15, 2023
Observation date: Nov 06, 2021
Submitted by: rbuist
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: Mar 20, 2023
Observation date: Jun 20, 2021
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 18, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 18, 2023
Observation date: Aug 11, 2017
Submitted by: Todd Boland
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 14, 2023
Observation date: Sep 01, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Sublette County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 13, 2023
Observation date: Oct 09, 2022
Submitted by: DDethlef
Region: Mesa County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 25, 2018
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Feb 11, 2023
Observation date: Aug 14, 2021
Submitted by: mothman@telus.net
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 11, 2023
Observation date: Aug 08, 2019
Submitted by: Aat
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Feb 10, 2023
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Anchorage, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 08, 2023
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