Clouded Sulphur

(Colias philodice)

Clouded Sulphur sightings by week

Clouded Sulphur sightings, by week (about)

Clouded SulphurClouded SulphurClouded Sulphur

The Clouded Sulphur is very common butterfly in Wisconsin. It can be found in early spring until late fall, with multiple broods that seem to peak in numbers in August. Here in central Wisconsin, it is common to see fields teeming with 100s and even 1000s of these butterflies. Check out the Quicktime movie of this that I took in Marquette County.

Identifying characteristics: Above the wings are yellow with black marginal borders. The males have a solid black border while the females have yellow spots in the border. Unfortunately, this butterfly rarely lands with its wings open. Below the wings are a yellowish color with a faint row of small black marginal spots, very evident in the second photo, and a double central spot. Some females of this species and the Orange Sulphur are white instead of yellow.

Similar species: White females of this species and the Orange Sulphur are nearly impossible to separate into species in the field. To confuse things even more these two species do hybridize. Below the Orange and Clouded Sulphurs are very similar, but orange on the top of the wing of the Orange Sulphur is very evident in flight, especially summer individuals which seem to have more orange. Pink-edged Sulphurs could also be confused with this species. Below the Pink-edged Sulphurs lack the faint row of black marginal spots and have just a single central spot.

Recent Clouded Sulphur Sightings

Date seenCountyReported by
YesterdayOzaukeeKevin Brown
YesterdayIowaAnn Thering and Dave Eide
YesterdayWoodRon Arnold
YesterdayPortageWayne Anderson
MondayDaneJorgen Goderstad
MondayGreen LakeMike Reese
07–12–2008WoodRon Arnold
07–12–2008IowaSWBA Field Trip, 18 participants
07–12–2008OzaukeeJudith Huf
07–12–2008PortageWayne Anderson
07–11–2008MilwaukeeJudith Huf
07–10–2008PortageWayne Anderson
07–10–2008DaneAnn Thering
07–09–2008WashingtonMike Kirch
07–09–2008DaneAnn Thering
07–09–2008CrawfordMike Reese
07–08–2008RockTom Poklen
07–08–2008WausharaMike Reese
07–08–2008SaukAndy Paulios
07–06–2008DaneJoan Braune, Tod Highsmith and Mary Dykstra
07–06–2008ColumbiaMike Reese
07–05–2008DaneJorgen Goderstad
07–05–2008WoodRon Arnold
07–05–2008WashingtonMike Kirch
07–04–2008SaukWayne Anderson
07–04–2008MarquetteMike Reese
07–04–2008DaneJorgen Goderstad
07–04–2008IowaAnn Thering and Dave Eide
07–04–2008DaneJoan Braune and Tod Highsmith
07–03–2008WoodRon Arnold, Ann Thering, Mike Reese
07–03–2008DaneJorgen Goderstad
07–01–2008MilwaukeeJudith Huf
07–01–2008DaneJorgen Goderstad
07–01–2008DaneAnn Thering
07–01–2008PortageWayne Anderson
06–30–2008DaneAnn Thering
06–30–2008MilwaukeeJudith Huf

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distribution of Clouded Sulphur
Map key

Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice