Orange tinge through backlit wing (Fred Heath) Orange Sulphur Orange Sulphur


Butterflies of Southern Arizona


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Orange Sulphur.
Colias eurytheme.
Whites/Sulphurs (Pieridae) Family.

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. Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 2 3/4 inches (3.5 - 7 cm). 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. Conservation: Not required. ID clue: You can also see the wide black forewing margin and a partial black margin on the hindwing. If it was a female there would be pale spots in the black forewing margin and the orange would be less apparent. In addition, some of the female Orange Sulphurs have no yellow or orange above. but a creamy white. However the pattern of the black margins match. (per Fred Heath)


Santa Catalina Mountains
Chihuahua Pines Picnic Area.
Location: On Tagetes lemmonii in wash.
10/12/17

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