These little yellow butterflies are so pretty, but they are really tricky to identify. There are three main choices where I live. I think this is a Clouded Sulphur, Colias philodice, but I'm open to correction by anyone who really knows these little guys (and girls). I'm strictly amateur when it comes to Lepidoptera.
This one has really pink wing edges, but it does have spots along the edges of the hind wings. So, that rules out a Pink-edged Sulphur. Those have no edge spots. Clouded Sulphurs usually have a double central wing spot. But that isn't definitive. It's probably not an Orange Sulphur because they have to show at least a little bit of orange somewhere.
And just in case you weren't confused enough, they can interbreed.
Anyway, they are cute little yellow butterflies with big green eyes and pink legs, and there are always a lot of them in August.
 | See Cabbage and Sulphur Butterflies for more examples |
| if you like this blog, click the +1 | |
No comments:
Post a Comment