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 1 - 24 of 13056 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 14, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 05, 2025
Submitted by: Susan A Ward
Region: Greene County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 10, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 06, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: actuallyamagpie
Region: Clermont County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 08, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Aug 10, 2025
Observation date: Aug 06, 2025
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Defiance County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 09, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2016
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 07, 2025
Observation date: Aug 03, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 22, 2025
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 03, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 30, 2025
Observation date: Jul 28, 2025
Submitted by: drifter423
Region: New Brunswick, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 29, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2025
Submitted by: cp2023
Region: Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Oct 12, 2024
Submitted by: jwsformo
Region: Erie County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: slamberts
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 22, 2025
Submitted by: Razzlefish
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2025
Submitted by: John Gibbons
Region: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 21, 2025
Observation date: Jul 18, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Morris County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 19, 2025
Observation date: Jul 17, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 17, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 16, 2025
Observation date: Jul 08, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Yellowstone County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
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