Mead's Sulphur
Colias meadii W.H. Edwards, 1871
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upperside of male deep reddish orange with wide, dull black border; female lighter orange, border containing orange spots. Underside of both sexes greenish-yellow, with hindwing white spot circled in red.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 inches (3.8 - 5.1 cm).
Life History: Males patrol open tundra for females. Females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves, which are then eaten by the caterpillars. Third-stage caterpillars overwinter.
Flight: One flight from July-August.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including clover (Trifolium) and Astragalus species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar including alpine sunflower and asters.
Habitat: At or near treeline in high mountains, tundra, subalpine meadows.
Range: Restricted to the Rocky Mountains from Alberta south to Colorado.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 123 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 08, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 14, 2025
Observation date: Aug 18, 2024
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2024
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Jackson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 04, 2024
Observation date: Jul 28, 2024
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Grande County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jan 28, 2024
Observation date: Aug 26, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 16, 2023
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Clear Creek County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2023
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Park County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 09, 2023
Observation date: Jul 22, 2023
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 10, 2023
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: May 09, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Apr 24, 2023
Observation date: Aug 12, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 14, 2023
Observation date: Aug 05, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Sublette County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Feb 14, 2023
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: CheddahCurt
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Feb 11, 2023
Observation date: Sep 05, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 28, 2022
Observation date: Aug 04, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Aug 01, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 27, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 29, 2022
Submitted by: DebraRade
Region: Lake County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 02, 2022
Observation date: Aug 14, 2022
Submitted by: dsperanza
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 18, 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: Jul 26, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 11, 2022
Observation date: Jul 17, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 18, 2021
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