Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212
Colias occidentalis
This record describes Colias occidentalis (species). Recorded family: Pieridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Very close to Christina and Alexandra Sulphurs. Characters much the same as for Christina Sulphur, but upper side usually bright yellow, at most flushed orange. Found further southwest, but overlapping in Rockies in US.
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
Geographic Range
mostly n CA to s BC - Map (MPG)
Seasonal Activity
mostly Jun-Aug ( MPG )
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval host include Milk Vetch, Golden Banner, and other Fabaceae.
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Colias occidentalis Scudder, 1862
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Colias occidentalis. 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 Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Mike Quinn
Frequently Asked Questions About Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212
What is Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212?
Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212 (Colias occidentalis) is a species in the family Pieridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212?
Very close to Christina and Alexandra Sulphurs. Characters much the same as for Christina Sulphur, but upper side usually bright yellow, at most flushed orange. Found further southwest, but overlapping in Rockies in US.
Where is Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212 found?
Range: mostly n CA to s BC - Map (MPG)
What does Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212 eat?
The diet of the Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212 includes Larval host include Milk Vetch, Golden Banner, and other Fabaceae..
When is Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212 active?
Western Sulphur - Hodges#4212: seasonal activity - mostly Jun-Aug ( MPG ).