Colias Eurytheme - Orange Sulfur

 Colias Eurytheme - Orange Sulfur

Image Credit: tlwilson1103

Identification: Quite variable. Upper side 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).

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.

http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Colias-eurytheme