Alternate name: Common Sulphur

Family: Pieridae, Whites and Sulphurs view all from this family

Description The Common or Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae.

The upper side of the male's wings is yellow with black borders. The upper side of the female's wings is either yellow or greenish-white with yellow- or white-spotted black borders. The underside of the male's wings is yellow while the female's is yellow or greenish-white, and both have a double hind wing spot trimmed in brownish-red. Its wingspan 32 to 54 mm.

This species has a white form which can be confused with a Pieris rapae.

Dimensions 1 3/8-2" (35-51 mm).

Habitat Forests & woodlands, Grasslands & prairies, Meadows & fields, Cities, suburbs & towns, Scrub, shrub & brushlands, Shorelines & salt marshes, Freshwater swamps, marshes & bogs, Alpine & subalpine habitats, Canyons & caves, Arctic habitats.

Range Texas, Western Canada, Southeast, Southwest, Florida, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Eastern Canada, Northwest, New England, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Alaska, California.