Western Sulphur
Colias occidentalis Scudder, 1862
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Coliadinae
Identification: Upperside of male bright yellow with wide black border; orange morph is orange with yellow at costa and wing bases. Female pale yellow to greenish white with border blurry, incomplete, or absent; orange morph dull orange with wide black borders and dark veins. Underside of both sexes with pink wing fringes and golden yellow hindwing; orange morph green-gray to orange; both with dark overscales.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/2 inches (4.5 - 6.3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol in valleys or open areas near host plants for females. Females lay eggs singly on host plant leaves. Late-stage caterpillars hibernate.
Flight: May-August, mainly June-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants of the pea family (Fabaceae) including vetch (Vicia angustifolia), sweet vetch (Hedysarum), lupines (Lupinus), and white sweet clover (Melilotus alba).
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Open areas including meadows, sagebrush flats, conifer forest openings, power-line cuts.
Range: Extreme southern British Columbia and northwestern United States south to north coastal California and central Utah.
Conservation: Some populations affected by grazing and fire suppression.
NCGR: G3, G4 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range OR Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Subspecies chrysomelas is T2,T3 and is threatened by fire suppression, improper logging, and invasive alien weeds.
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 161 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 12, 1990
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Scott North)
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 30, 1988
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Ken Hansen)
Region: Humboldt County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 26, 1983
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Sterling Mattoon)
Region: Tehama County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 02, 2010
Observation date: Jun 19, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeffrey Glassberg)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: Jun 08, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Tuskes)
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 07, 2010
Observation date: Jun 03, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John DeBenedictus)
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 06, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (James R. Mori)
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 24, 1967
Submitted by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Region: Colusa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 19, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Jeffrey Glassberg)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Jun 08, 1995
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Floyd & June Preston)
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: May 30, 1989
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (B. Grooms)
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Jun 10, 1975
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Harriet Reinhart)
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: May 14, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (B. Grooms)
Region: Glenn County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 04, 2010
Observation date: Jun 08, 1946
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (unknown)
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (William H. Howe)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: Jun 20, 1961
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. Donald Eff)
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (William H. Howe)
Verified date: Dec 17, 2009
Observation date: May 30, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (M. Grinnell)
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 28, 2009
Observation date: May 25, 1992
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (M. Grinnell)
Region: Lake County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 28, 2009
Observation date: Jul 11, 2009
Submitted by: davidwdroppers (David Droppers)
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers (David Droppers)
Verified date: Aug 21, 2009
Observation date: Jul 11, 2009
Submitted by: davidwdroppers (David Droppers)
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers (David Droppers)
Verified date: Aug 21, 2009
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Elmore County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Ferry County, Washington, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lake County, Montana, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Clark County, Washington, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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