Insect · GBIF taxon 5137672
Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodiceAlso known as Common Sulphur
Clouded sulphurs are ubiquitous open-country butterflies that flutter low over pastures, lawns, and roadside ditches throughout North America. Males exhibit vibrant pale yellow wings trimmed in solid black borders, while females appear in two distinct color morphs: yellow or a chalky white known as the alba form. During warm summer afternoons, groups of males frequently gather around damp mud puddles to sip essential minerals and salts.
PollinatorDiurnalFluttering
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Clover
- Alfalfa
- Flower Nectar
Predators
- Songbirds
- Spiders
- Praying Mantises
ThreatsBroadcast pesticide use, frequent mowing of host plants, and habitat loss
HabitatsMeadows, agricultural fields, pastures, suburban lawns, and roadsides
Life span1–2 weeks as adults; up to 1 year including overwintering stage
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyPieridae
- SpeciesColias philodice
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Puddle Watching: Look for male aggregations sipping water along muddy dirt paths and creek edges on warm afternoons.
- Approach Gently: Move slowly toward resting individuals feeding on clover blooms to avoid startling them into vertical flight.
- White Morph ID: Examine white females closely for dark wing borders to distinguish them from Cabbage White butterflies.
Co-Occurring Pierid John Tann from Sydney, Australia / CC BY 2.0 · cc-by
Host Plant Vinayaraj / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative no rights reserved, uploaded by Chrissy McClarren and Andy Reago · cc0
Close Relative (c) Arlo Sitimans, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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