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Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

 
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Order: Lepidoptera (le-pid-OP-ter-a) (Info)
Family: Pieridae (pee-AIR-ih-dee) (Info)
Genus: Colias
Species: eurytheme

Profile:

1 positive
2 neutrals
No negatives

Regional...

This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions:

Barling, Arkansas
Deer, Arkansas
Bartow, Florida
Timber Pines, Florida
Divernon, Illinois
Jerome, Illinois
Hebron, Kentucky
New Orleans, Louisiana
Lincoln, Nebraska
Elephant Butte, New Mexico
Roswell, New Mexico
Waynesville, North Carolina
Fruit Hill, Ohio
Glouster, Ohio
Bayview, Texas
Impact, Texas

Member Notes:

RatingAuthorComment
Neutral Magpye On Aug 16, 2006, Magpye from NW Qtr, AR
(Zone 6a) wrote:

Wing span: 1 3/8 - 2 3/4 inches (3.5 - 7 cm).

Identification: Quite variable. Upperside of male yellow with orange overlay, yellow veins, wide black border, and dark black cell spot. Female yellow or white with irregular black border surrounding light spots. Underside hindwing spot silver with 2 concentric dark rings, and a spot above it.

Life history: Males patrol for receptive females, who lay eggs singly on top of host plant leaves. Most feeding takes place at night. Young caterpillars chew holes in the tops of leaves, then later feed from the leaf tip. Older caterpillars eat half of the leaf before moving to the other half. Chrysalids overwinter.

Flight: Two-three flights in the north from June-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 white sweet clover (Melilotus alba).

Adult food: Nectar from many kinds of flowers including dandelion, milkweeds, goldenrods, and asters.

Habitat: A wide variety of open sites, especially clover and alfalfa fields, mowed fields, vacant lots, meadows, road edges.

Range: Southern Canada to central Mexico, coast to coast in the United States except for the Florida peninsula.

Comments: One of the most widespread and common butterflies in North America.

Positive rampbrat On Mar 22, 2009, rampbrat from Abilene, TX
(Zone 7b) wrote:

Early last Nov. I spent a Sat. watching and taking pictures of dozens of sulphurs enjoying the flowers in my yard . They loved my pink and red salvias, but they adored my lavender and blue scabiosa! I counted over 50 on the lavender alone. They were joined by a few other butterflies including a lone monarch.

Neutral paulatc On Oct 7, 2010, paulatc from Maggie Valley, NC wrote:

This butterfly finally stopped long enough to be photographed - they have been very "flighty" for most of the summer, and don't stop on one spot for very long. Very common in this area, but sometimes difficult to distinguish from other sulphurs, because it's hard to get them to stay still long enough!

By Magpye
Thumbnail #1 of Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) by Magpye

By DiOhio
Thumbnail #2 of Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) by DiOhio

By artcons
Thumbnail #3 of Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) by artcons

By artcons
Thumbnail #4 of Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) by artcons

By angele
Thumbnail #5 of Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) by angele

By jmorth
Thumbnail #6 of Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) by jmorth

By SusanLouise
Thumbnail #7 of Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) by SusanLouise

There are a total of 9 photos.
Click here to view them all!

Timer: 18.23 jiffies (0.18225598335266).


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