Butterflies of the Adirondacks:
Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice)

Butterflies of the Adirondack Park: Clouded Sulphur on the Old Orchard Loop at Heaven Hill (21 July 2019).
Butterflies of the Adirondacks: The Clouded Sulphur is a generalist. Although it is not found in dense forests, it can be seen in many different open areas, including fields, lawns, road edges, marshes, bogs, and meadows. Clouded Sulphur on the Old Orchard Loop at Heaven Hill (21 July 2019).

The Clouded Sulphur butterfly (Colias philodice) is a medium-sized yellow North American butterfly which may be seen in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York throughout summer. It is also called the Common Sulfur. [1]

The Clouded Sulphur is one of three members of the Colias genus found in the Adirondack Park. The others are the Orange Sulphur and the Pink-edged Sulphur. Butterflies in this genus are usually some shade of yellow, orange, or white. [2] Seen from above, they have black borders, solid in males, but with pale spots in females. All of our sulphurs usually perch with closed wings, which complicates identification.

Clouded Sulphur: Identification

Butterflies of the Adirondack Park: Clouded Sulphur at John Brown Farm (16 September 2019).
Butterflies of the Adirondacks: Clouded Sulphurs have sharply defined black borders on all four wings on the upper side. Clouded Sulphur at John Brown Farm (16 September 2019).

Male Clouded Sulphurs have sharply defined black borders on all four wings on the upper side, while the female has yellow spots in the black border. Clouded Sulphurs usually land with their wings closed, so it is difficult to get a clear view of their upper surfaces. [3] [4]

The underside of the male's wings is yellow while the female's is yellow or greenish-white. The underside of the wings has a row of small brown submarginal spots. The under side of the hind wing usually has a silver cell spot rimmed by pink. [5]

Spring and fall forms of the Clouded Sulphur reportedly are smaller and less conspicuously marked. [6] Moreover, both sexes tend to be greenish yellow in the spring and fall, clear yellow in midsummer. [7] The female has a white form. [8]

This butterfly is difficult to distinguish from its close relative, the Orange Sulfur, [9] some of which show very little orange. [10] Yellow-orange hybrids with Orange Sulfurs reportedly occur.[11] [12]

Clouded Sulphur: Life History

Butterflies of the Adirondack Park: Clouded Sulphur at the Paul Smiths VIC Native Species Butterfly House (4 August 2018).
Butterflies of the Adirondacks: Adult Clouded Sulphurs consume the flower nectar from many plants. Clouded Sulphur at the Paul Smiths VIC Native Species Butterfly House (4 August 2018).

The Clouded Sulphur lays eggs singly on top of the host plant leaf, hatching in about five days. The eggs are yellow when fresh, changing to crimson. [13]

The eggs hatch into smooth green larvae with a dark stripe down the back and light stripes on the sides. [14] Caterpillar hosts include plants in the pea family, such as alfalfa, vetches, and white clover. The chrysalis is green and pointed at both ends. [15]

Adults consume the flower nectar of many plants, including Joe Pye Weed and goldenrods. [16] This butterfly is an avid mud-puddler; and swarms of Clouded Sulphurs can often be seen fluttering around a mud puddle. [17] Sulfurs reportedly fly steadily with little gliding. [18]

Clouded Suphur: Habitat and Range

From the ecological standpoint, the Clouded Sulphur is a generalist. [19] Wide-ranging and adaptable, this butterfly can be found in many different open areas, including fields, lawns, road edges, marshes, bogs, and meadows. [20] The Clouded Sulphur is absent from dense forests. [21]

The Clouded Sulphur is said to be one of the most widespread and common North American butterflies. [22] Its range is Alaska south through central and southeast Canada and the US, [23] including Texas, Western Canada, Southeast, Southwest, Florida, Plains, Rocky Mountains, Eastern Canada, Northwest, New England, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Alaska, and California.

Clouded Sulphur: Flight

Butterflies of the Adirondack Park: Clouded Sulphur on the meadow at the Cemetery Road Wetlands (19 September 2018).
Butterflies of the Adirondacks: Most years, Clouded Sulphurs are seen throughout much of the summer in the Adirondacks. Clouded Sulphur on the meadow at the Cemetery Road Wetlands (19 September 2018).

In the northern parts of its range, the Clouded Sulphur has two or more overlapping broods each year, with a flight period from May into late October. [24] In the New York City area, Clouded Sulphurs are reported to be most abundant in early to mid-July, [25] while in Canada this butterfly reaches its peak in numbers in the late summer and early fall. [26]

The flight period for Clouded Sulphurs in the Adirondack Park is not known. However, these butterflies may be seen in our part of the Adirondack Mountains throughout much of the summer.

  • During the summer of 2012, we had Cloudeds in the Paul Smith's College VIC Native Species Butterfly House from 11 June to 18 August and another batch in late August-September in the adjacent Butterfly Garden. [27]
  • Based on confirmed sighting from subsequent years, it appears that Clouded Sulphurs are present in the Adirondack Mountains in July, August, September, and early October. [28]

References

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