Colias occidentalis, the western sulphur or golden sulphur, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America. Its range includes the Pacific Northwest and parts of British Columbia.Western Sulphur, Butterflies of Canada
The one flight period is from late May until early July. Its habitats include ocean bluffs, forest openings, mountain slopes, and subalpine meadows.
Description The golden sulphur is large and yellow with a single white spot on the hindwing surrounded by a red ring. There is rarely a satellite spot. Its wingspan ranges from to . Males do not reflect ultraviolet. Females have a rare white morph (alba).
Host plants Source:
Vicia angustifolia Lathyrus lanszwertii Lupinus latifolius Melilotus alba
Its larvae feed on flowers like the Vicia spp., Lupinus spp., Lathyrus spp., and Thermopsis spp.Colias at Markku Savela's Lepidoptera and Some Other Life Forms
Subspecies Listed alphabetically. C. o. chrysomelas H. Edwards, 1877 (California, Oregon) C. o. occidentalis (British Columbia, Washington, Oregon) C. o. sullivani Hammond & McCorkle, 2003 (Oregon)
References
External links
Colias occidentalis images at Consortium for the Barcode of Life