Queen Alexandra's Sulphur
Colias alexandra W.H. Edwards, 1863
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upper surface of male bright yellow with pale yellow at wing bases; wings edged by narrow black border crossed by yellow veins; cell spot small. Female yellow, sometimes white, with forewing border faded or absent. Underside of hindwing of both sexes green-gray; cell spot white with no surrounding ring.
Wing Span: 1 5/8 - 2 1/4 inches (4.2 - 5.7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol open areas for females. Eggs are laid singly on top of host plant leaves, which the caterpillars eat. Late-stage caterpillars overwinter.
Flight: One flight from May-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Various plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including milk vetch (Astragalus), Lupines (Lupinus), and clover (Trifolium) species.
Adult Food: Nectar from flowers including blanket flower, milk vetches, and others.
Habitat: Road edges, fields, meadows, sagebrush flats.
Range: British Columbia south and east to eastern California, Arizona and New Mexico.
Conservation: Not usually 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 1 - 24 of 417 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 28, 2025
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Summit County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 22, 2024
Observation date: Jun 25, 2024
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 27, 2024
Observation date: May 14, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: White Pine County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 27, 2023
Submitted by: HimmelBerries
Region: Saskatchewan, Canada
Verified by: alchem30
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 30, 2017
Submitted by: dingoqueen
Region: Box Elder County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 27, 2016
Submitted by: Robb Hannawacker
Region: San Juan County, Utah, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 21, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jul 25, 2023
Observation date: Jul 02, 2023
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 03, 2023
Observation date: Jun 23, 2023
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jun 24, 2023
Observation date: May 31, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Greenlee County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jan 22, 2023
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Eureka County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Granite County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 19, 2022
Observation date: Jun 17, 2019
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: Cheri Phillips
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 04, 2022
Observation date: Jul 21, 2022
Submitted by: Paul Prappas
Region: San Miguel County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 05, 2022
Observation date: Jul 17, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 21, 2022
Observation date: Jul 20, 2018
Submitted by: Cheri Phillips
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 19, 2022
Observation date: Jun 16, 2022
Submitted by: KABerry
Region: Cascade County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 11, 2022
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 08, 2022
Observation date: Jun 29, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 04, 2022
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