Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)

Found more commonly in the NC mountains and piedmont, Clouded Sulphurs are fairly rare in the coastal plain. Care must be taken to properly distinguish these butterflies from the similar and more common Orange Sulphur, especially in the springtime when some Orange Sulphurs show very little orange on the dorsal surface. Clouded Sulphurs do not show any orange coloration in the dorsal forewing, although a hint of orange may be present in the ventral forewing of some populations (see Colias eriphyle below).


#1655a
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Cates Farm Park, Alamance Co., NC
16 Mar 2023

I took several in-flight photos to try to document the lack of orange on the dorsal wing surfaes. These dorsal shots are blurry and highly cropped but they do suffice!


#1655b
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Cates Farm Park, Alamance Co., NC
16 Mar 2023

Same individual as in above row.


#1613
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Cates Farm Park, Alamance Co., NC
16 Mar 2023

#2474
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Cates Farm Park, Alamance Co., NC
5 May 2023

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Durham Division Duke Forest, Durham Co., NC
14 Sep 2019
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Cates Farm Park, Alamance Co., NC
6 Mar 2023

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Durham Division Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
21 Sep 2019

Same individual. Nectaring on Symphyotrichum (left) and Chrysogonum (right).


Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Duke Forest, Orange Co., NC
25 Sep 2011
Orange Sulphur may not be ruled out

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Fletcher Wildlife Preserve, Ottawa
11 July 2018
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Fletcher Wildlife Preserve, Ottawa
11 July 2018

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Fletcher Wildlife Preserve, Ottawa
11 July 2018
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Fletcher Wildlife Preserve, Ottawa
11 July 2018

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Albino Clouded Sulphur or Orange Sulphur
Chatham Co., NC
19 Oct 2005
same individual
photographed in flight at high speed
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
same individual
photographed in flight at high speed
same individual
photographed in flight at high speed

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Watauga Co., NC
27 June 2004


Many authorities now recognize Eriphyle Sulphur (below) as a separate species from Clouded Sulphur (above).
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Near Condon, Missoula Co., MT
4 Aug 2014

Note that looking at the ventral might give you the impression of Orange Sulpbur, but the dorsal clearly shows no orange in the forewing.


Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
17 July 2013
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
17 July 2013

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
2 Sep 2013
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
2 Sep 2013

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
MPG North, Northern Missoula Co., MT
6 Sep 2013
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
MPG North, Northern Missoula Co., MT
6 Sep 2013

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
MPG North near Condon, Missoula Co., MT
11 July 2014
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
MPG North near Condon, Missoula Co., MT
11 July 2014

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Angela, Rosebud Co., MT
1 June 2014
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Angela, Rosebud Co., MT
2 June 2014

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Near Mt. Baldy, Missoula Co., MT
2 Sep 2013

Note that this very well could be an Orange Sulphur (C. eurytheme), but I do not recall seeing any orange on the dorsal surface in flight, and C. p. eriphyle can show ventral orange on the forewing.


Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Near Condon, Missoula Co., MT
8 Aug 2015

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Missoula Co., MT
1 May 2014
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Goat Flat, Granite Co., MT
16 July 2015

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
6 Oct 2015
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
6 Oct 2015

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
6 Oct 2015
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
6 Oct 2015

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
6 Oct 2015
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
6 Oct 2015

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
17 Apr 2016
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Rock Creek, Carbon Co., MT
23 July 2023

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Near Kaycee, Johnson Co., WY
25 July 2024

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle)
Beartooth Hwy, Park Co., WY
22 July 2023

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Near Kaycee, Johnson Co., WY
5 July 2024

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Bighorn Range, Washakie Co., WY
5 July 2024
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)
Bighorn Range, Washakie Co., WY
5 July 2024

Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice eriphyle), left
Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), right
MPG Ranch, Missoula Co., MT
6 Oct 2015

Nice side by side comparison of male sulphurs. Note that the Orange Sulphur shows stronger orange in the disc of the ventral forewing, and a wider black forewing border.




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