Orange Sulphur Butterfly

Sulphur Butterflies (Coliadinae) Cloudless Sulphur Dainty Sulphur Large Orange Sulphur Little Yellow Lyside Sulphur Mimosa Yellow Sleepy Orange Southern Dogface Tailed Orange Butterfly Pictures

The Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) and the Clouded Sulpher are the two most common sulphur butterflies found in the United States, each with a coast to coast range.

The species also are known to hybridize, making field identification fairly difficult without a top side and bottom side view of the wings.

The tops of the wings have black stripes that often show through on side. The underside of the wings has a large, and sometimes small, distinct white spot in the middle of the bottom wing.

Usually the Orange Sulphur has an orange shade on the wings. Females in both species also have a white wing form.

Without a top and bottom view of the butterfly in the top picture, the identification of it as an Orange Sulphur must be tentative.

Many Colias species also share some of these field marks. However, their limited geographical range can make for easier field identification.

© 2008 Patricia A. Michaels