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 13104 verified sightings
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
Observation date: May 01, 2026
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 03, 2026
Observation date: Apr 25, 2026
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 26, 2026
Observation date: Apr 07, 2026
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 26, 2026
Observation date: Apr 15, 2026
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Apr 19, 2026
Observation date: Aug 13, 2025
Submitted by: Bombyx-Aurelia
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 11, 2026
Observation date: Nov 01, 2024
Submitted by: philsfotos1
Region: Iosco County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Apr 07, 2026
Observation date: Jul 17, 2024
Submitted by: DianaMK
Region: Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 01, 2026
Observation date: Mar 25, 2026
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Mar 29, 2026
Observation date: Aug 30, 2025
Submitted by: acb22
Region: Houghton County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 16, 2026
Observation date: Jul 11, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Mar 08, 2026
Observation date: Jul 17, 2025
Submitted by: Graycatbird88
Region: Orange County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 23, 2026
Observation date: Oct 31, 2024
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 16, 2026
Observation date: Oct 25, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 17, 2026
Observation date: Oct 21, 2025
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Nov 28, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 22, 2025
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Lorain County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 20, 2025
Observation date: Oct 27, 2025
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 02, 2025
Observation date: Sep 03, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 11, 2007
Submitted by: hank4044
Region: Lake County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Oct 17, 2025
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