Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211
Colias alexandra
This record describes Colias alexandra (species). Recorded family: Pieridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Upper surface of male bright yellow with pale yellow at wing bases; wings edged by narrow black border crossed by yellow veins; cell spot small. Female yellow, sometimes white, with forewing border faded or absent. Underside of hindwing of both sexes green-gray; cell spot white with no surrounding ring.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Pieridae (Whites, Sulphurs, Yellows)
- Subfamily
- Coliadinae
- Genus
- Colias
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Road edges, fields, meadows, sagebrush flats.
Geographic Range
British Columbia south and east to eastern California, Arizona and New Mexico.
Seasonal Activity
One flight from May-August.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillar hosts: Various plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including milk vetch (Astragalus), Lupines (Lupinus), and clover (Trifolium) species. Adult food: Nectar from flowers including blanket flower, milk vetches, and others.
Life History
Males patrol open areas for females. Eggs are laid singly on top of host plant leaves, which the caterpillars eat. Late-stage caterpillars overwinter.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Colias alexandra. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by tom murray; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Matthew Roth
Frequently Asked Questions About Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211
What is Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211?
Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211 (Colias alexandra) is a species in the family Pieridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211?
Wing span: 1 5/8 - 2 1/4 inches (4.2 - 5.7 cm).
How do you identify Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211?
Upper surface of male bright yellow with pale yellow at wing bases; wings edged by narrow black border crossed by yellow veins; cell spot small. Female yellow, sometimes white, with forewing border faded or absent. Underside of hindwing of both sexes green-gray; cell spot white with no surrounding ring.
Where is Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Road edges, fields, meadows, sagebrush flats. |
| Range | British Columbia south and east to eastern California, Arizona and New Mexico. |
What does Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211 eat?
The diet of the Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211 includes Caterpillar hosts: Various plants in the pea family (Fabaceae) including milk vetch (Astragalus), Lupines (Lupinus), and clover (Trifolium) species. Adult food: Nectar from flowers including blanket flower, milk vetches, and others..
When is Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211 active?
Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211: seasonal activity - One flight from May-August..
What is the life cycle of a Queen Alexandra's Sulphur - Hodges#4211?
Males patrol open areas for females. Eggs are laid singly on top of host plant leaves, which the caterpillars eat. Late-stage caterpillars overwinter.