Species Colias eurytheme - Orange Sulphur - Hodges#4210

4210

Alfalfa Sulphur

Colias eurytheme Boisduval, 1852

40-65 mm Wingspan(1)

Similar to C. philodice; generally larger; orange instead of yellow (most noticeable on upper surface), and wider dark wing margins.(1). C. eurytheme is also less likely to have grayish scaling on the lower surface and tends to have broader wings with slightly more angular shapes.

The white form females of the two species are the same color, but those of eurytheme can often be separated from the white form female philodice by the narrower dark HW outer border. In philodice the HW border will usually not have any pale spots included, while eurytheme most often has included spots that are often isolated from the rest of the wing. This is variable in both species, but is often a helpful "rule of thumb".

Example white-form female lacking any orange:

CA-FL-ME-BC / Mex., Cuba - MPG

not as far north as C. philodice.(1)

flies to Dec. in many states - MPG

It overwinters as larva or pupa

Larvae feed on alfalfa, clover, and other legumes.(1)

Arnett & Jacques (1)

Moth Photographers Group- MPG

Butterflies and Moths of North America - BAMONA

Butterflies of America - BOA

The winter ecology of Colias euritheme and its dependence on exotic legumes in southern New Jersey