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 13124 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 14, 2026
Submitted by: Jim Lowe
Region: Newport County, Rhode Island, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 14, 2026
Observation date: Jul 26, 2026
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 06, 2026
Observation date: Aug 01, 2026
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Buffalo County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 02, 2026
Observation date: Jul 26, 2026
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 28, 2026
Observation date: Jul 25, 2025
Submitted by: Doug DeNeve
Region: Alleghany County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jul 27, 2026
Observation date: Jul 22, 2026
Submitted by: Rgilson
Region: Eagle County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 25, 2026
Observation date: Jul 07, 2026
Submitted by: ekcobrien
Region: Scotts Bluff County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Jul 20, 2026
Observation date: Jul 07, 2026
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 15, 2026
Observation date: Jul 11, 2026
Submitted by: archmac
Region: Hillsborough County, New Hampshire, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 12, 2026
Observation date: Jul 04, 2026
Submitted by: Graycatbird88
Region: New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 04, 2026
Observation date: Jun 19, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 24, 2026
Observation date: Jun 18, 2026
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 23, 2026
Observation date: Jun 14, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 21, 2026
Observation date: Jun 19, 2026
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 19, 2026
Observation date: Jun 11, 2026
Submitted by: robjm99
Region: Licking County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 13, 2026
Observation date: Jun 06, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 07, 2026
Observation date: May 30, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 31, 2026
Observation date: May 25, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Washington County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: May 30, 2026
Observation date: May 20, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 24, 2026
Observation date: Jul 13, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Major County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 23, 2026
Observation date: May 10, 2026
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 17, 2026
Observation date: May 14, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Harford County, Maryland, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 17, 2026
Observation date: May 09, 2026
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: May 01, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 03, 2026
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