Photo: naba.org
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clouded sulphur
Colias philodice
Identification: Wingspan 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 inches. 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.
Habitat: Many different open areas including fields, lawns, alfalfa and clover fields, road edges, meadows.
Garden Habit: Eggs laid singly on host; caterpillars eat leaves. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars.
Host Plants: Plants in the pea family including alfalfa, white clover, and pea.
Identification: Wingspan 1 1/2 - 1 3/4 inches. 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.
Habitat: Many different open areas including fields, lawns, alfalfa and clover fields, road edges, meadows.
Garden Habit: Eggs laid singly on host; caterpillars eat leaves. Hibernation is by third-stage caterpillars.
Host Plants: Plants in the pea family including alfalfa, white clover, and pea.