Mead's Sulphur Colias meadii W.H. Edwards, 1871 | Butterflies and Moths of North America

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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