The Butterflies of the World Foundation

A Non-Profit Organization

Colias eurytheme, freshly deposited egg, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 7 October 2006                                                 Ref #:  I-361-5.1

Colias eurytheme, captured by Plains Clubtail, Gomphus externus, Little Yellowstone Park, Barnes County, North Dakota, 12 July 2003                             Ref #:  I-190-13.6

Orange Sulphur

Colias eurytheme, Boisduval, 1832

Subfamily Coliadinae

Taxonomy

There are about 1100 or so species within the family Pieridae.  The family is further divided into three subfamilies, the Coliadinae which has about 300 species worldwide and includes the Sulphurs, Yellows and Brimstones, the Pierinae which has about 700 species worldwide and includes the Whites, Orange-tips and Jezebels, and the Dismorphiinae which has about 100 species mostly in the tropics and includes the Wood Whites and Mimics.

Colias eurytheme, Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, Ward County, North Dakota, 19 August 2002                                                                              Ref #:  I-144-19.1

Colias eurytheme, Forth of July Campground, Manzano Mountains, Cibola National Forest, Torrance County, New Mexico, 1 July 1998                                            Ref #:  I-19-3

Colias eurytheme, Pasture 12, Little Missouri National Grassland, McKenzie County, North Dakota, 16 July 2005                                                                   Ref #:  I-310-13.4

Colias eurytheme, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 12 October 2008                                                                            Ref #:  I-406-12.1

Colias eurytheme, demonstrating “mud puddling” behavior, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 16 May 2010                                Ref #:  I-437-17

Colias eurytheme, mated pair, Summit Campground, Little Missouri National Grassland, McKenzie County, North Dakota, 24 August 2003                               Ref #:  I-209-8.2

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General Information:

Colias eurytheme is one of the most commonly recognized sulphurs found throughout most of the United States.  It flies from spring to fall with multiple broods.  It is found in most habitats including gardens and avidly takes nectar and imbibes minerals from mud.  Where its larval food plant is cultivated, these butterflies can be found by the thousands. The female has a white colored form.

Lifecycle:

The larval food plants includes alfalfa, clover and other legumes.  The eggs are conical and whitish.

Colias eurytheme, McGee Creek Wildlife Management Area, Atoka County, Oklahoma, 12 October 2011                                                                             Ref #:  I-491-4.2

Colias eurytheme, Pasture 12, Little Missouri National Grassland, McKenzie County, North Dakota, 16 July 2005                                                                      Ref #:  I-310-9

Colias eurytheme, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 9 May 2012                                                                                   Ref #:  I-508-16

Colias eurytheme, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 9 May 2012                                                                                   Ref #:  I-507-13

Colias eurytheme, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, 16 May 2012                                                                                   Ref #:  I-510-17

Colias eurytheme, wing pattern, Lexington Wildlife Management Area, Cleveland County, Oklahoma, May 2012                                                                   Ref #:  PA-11-4.3