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 13026 verified sightings
Observation date: May 30, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jun 13, 2025
Observation date: Jun 05, 2025
Submitted by: greggra
Region: Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 11, 2025
Observation date: May 27, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 27, 2025
Observation date: Sep 06, 2019
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 31, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 26, 2025
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: Liz Osborn
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 26, 2025
Observation date: May 22, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 25, 2025
Observation date: Aug 02, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 09, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 20, 2025
Observation date: Sep 03, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 18, 2025
Observation date: May 20, 2023
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 17, 2025
Observation date: May 08, 2025
Submitted by: JChris173
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 17, 2025
Observation date: Mar 30, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 09, 2025
Observation date: Mar 30, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 09, 2025
Observation date: Mar 30, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 09, 2025
Observation date: Apr 06, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 09, 2025
Observation date: Mar 29, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 09, 2025
Observation date: Apr 23, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Athens County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 03, 2025
Observation date: Apr 13, 2025
Submitted by: mothman27
Region: Highland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Apr 13, 2025
Submitted by: mothman27
Region: Highland County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 26, 2025
Observation date: Oct 19, 2024
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 21, 2025
Observation date: Sep 28, 2024
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 21, 2025
Observation date: Apr 20, 2024
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 19, 2025
Observation date: Mar 10, 2024
Submitted by: billd
Region: Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 19, 2025
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