Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223
Colias scudderii
This record describes Colias scudderii (species). Recorded family: Pieridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Fairly easily identified by rounded wing shape, yellow color (not orange, but sometimes white in females), usually relatively wide and bold dark borders of male (weak to absent borders on females). Underside usually less greenish than in C. alexandra , with spot in middle of hind wing usually more prominent and ringed with at least some pink, often with a bit of a satellite spot. Black dots below are absent. C. alexandra has more pointed wings, narrower dark border in males, spot on under hind wing is usually faint and only white (but rarely with some pink), and it is usually somewhat more common and occurs in a wider range of open habitats. C. alexandra larvae feed on Legumes. Colias gigantea is very closely related, and perhaps these are merely regional subspecies of one species. C. gigantea replaces C. scudderi northward from Wyoming. It differs little, except averages perhaps a bit larger, and males have the dark borders somewhat narrower. They do not occur together, so they can be distinguished by location.
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
High elevation meadows and open sunny bogs near Willows. Usually associated indirectly with Spruce-Fir forest or Lodgepole Pine forest.
Geographic Range
Southern Rocky Mountains, central Wyoming to northern New Mexico. It seems to be most abundant in the San Juan Mountains of New Mexico and Colorado, where it is sometimes the most common yellow butterfly at high elevations.
Seasonal Activity
adults mostly in mid to late summer.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Larval hosts are Willows ( Salix species)
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Colias scudderii. 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 Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223 (2)
Photo credits: Contributed by David J. Ferguson; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Nick Block
Frequently Asked Questions About Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223
What is Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223?
Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223 (Colias scudderii) is a species in the family Pieridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How do you identify Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223?
Fairly easily identified by rounded wing shape, yellow color (not orange, but sometimes white in females), usually relatively wide and bold dark borders of male (weak to absent borders on females). Underside usually less greenish than in C. alexandra , with spot in middle of hind wing usually more prominent and ringed with at least some pink, often with a bit of a satellite spot. Black dots below are absent. C. alexandra has more pointed wings, narrower dark border in males, spot on under hind wing is usually faint and only white (but rarely with some pink), and it is usually somewhat more common and occurs in a wider range of open habitats. C. alexandra larvae feed on Legumes.
Where is Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | High elevation meadows and open sunny bogs near Willows. Usually associated indirectly with Spruce-Fir forest or Lodgepole Pine forest. |
| Range | Southern Rocky Mountains, central Wyoming to northern New Mexico. It seems to be most abundant in the San Juan Mountains of New Mexico and Colorado, where it is sometimes the most common yellow butterfly at high elevations. |
What does Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223 eat?
The diet of the Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223 includes Larval hosts are Willows ( Salix species).
When is Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223 active?
Scudder's Sulphur - Hodges#4223: seasonal activity - adults mostly in mid to late summer..