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 13088 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Sep 27, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 12, 2025
Observation date: Oct 06, 2025
Submitted by: TippyPanzer
Region: Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 07, 2025
Observation date: Oct 01, 2025
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 02, 2025
Observation date: Jul 23, 2025
Submitted by: gpugesek
Region: Dixon County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Oct 01, 2025
Observation date: Sep 27, 2025
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 30, 2025
Observation date: Aug 19, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Jackson County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 19, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 19, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 19, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Door County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 26, 2025
Observation date: Sep 20, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Sep 23, 2025
Observation date: Sep 20, 2025
Submitted by: Rosalie's Granny
Region: Livingston County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 21, 2025
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: maryjanzen
Region: Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 19, 2025
Observation date: Aug 11, 2025
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Columbia County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 17, 2025
Observation date: Sep 15, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 17, 2025
Observation date: Sep 11, 2025
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Sep 15, 2025
Observation date: Sep 03, 2025
Submitted by: Sueanne Cmehil-Warn
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 15, 2025
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