Whites, Sulphurs, and Orange Tips

Family Pieridae

Clouded sulphur (Colias philodice). Photo:Stephanie Boucher

The adults are common in open sunny places and visit flowers. The larvae feed on many species of plants. These are very common butterflies that are sometimes seen flying in large groups. These are medium to small sized butterflies usually white, yellowish or orange, often with black wing margins. The Pieridae have strong front legs that are used for walking and the tarsal claws are forked. The larvae are cylindrical and covered with short hairs.

Distribution of Clouded sulphur (Colias philodice) in Canada