Summary ⁷

The Common or Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae.

Habitat ⁸

Found in open areas throughout the province, from prairie grasslands to alpine meadows.

Life cycle ⁹

The eggs are elongate with tapered ends and longitudinal ribs, and are red in colour several days after being laid (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Mature larvae are dark green with a dense covering of short, fine hairs, and have a dark dorsal and white-and-pink lateral line (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Pupae are green with three red dashes on the abdomen (Guppy & Shepard 2001). In favourable years (with adequate moisture and warm spring weather), there may be three broods in southern Alberta, and occasionally at least as far north as Edmonton. Individuals of the third brood, flying in late September to early October, are smaller and darker than the summer (second) brood, and resemble the spring brood. Northern (and possibly mountain) populations likely only have one annual brood. Single-brooded populations in the Peace River region of BC (subspecies vitabunda) may be a species distinct from philodice (Guppy & Shepard 2001). This taxon should also occur throughout the Peace River region of Alberta.

Threats ¹⁰

Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation

Taxonomy ¹¹

Comments: Although this species hybridizes with COLIAS EURYTHEME, it is considered distinct.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Dan Mullen, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-ND), http://www.flickr.com/photos/8583446@N05/4960365598
2. (c) Beatrice LaPorte, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2676/3993024785_b53915f5dc_b.jpg
3. (c) David Bygott, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5223/5656620638_9fe643ca07.jpg
4. (c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Pieridae/Coliadinae/colias_p_philodice/Colias_p_philodice_F_Breedsville_21-IX-07_44.jpg
5. (c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Pieridae/Coliadinae/colias_p_philodice/Colias_p_philodice_F_Breedsville_MI_5-VI-03_W_45.jpg
6. (c) Bill Bouton, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://butterfliesofamerica.com/images/Pieridae/Coliadinae/colias_p_philodice/Colias_p_philodice_M_Breedsville_Mi_14-V-06_46.jpg
7. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colias_philodice
8. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884810
9. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884811
10. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28795270
11. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28795265

More Info

• iNat taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CalPhotos
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• Maryland Moths
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• Moths of North Carolina
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Pacific Northwest Moths

Range Map

(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

iNat Map