Summary ²

The Pink-edged sulphur (Colias interior) is a species of North American butterfly in the Pieridae family.

General description ³

Can be confused with small specimens of the Giant Sulphur (C. gigantea), but interior has a smaller underside discal spot, and the overall shape of the forewings is more rounded than pointy. In the mountains where the Pink-edged occurs together with the Pelidne, the pink wing fringe of interior is more pronounced, and the under- and upper side is not strongly suffused with black scales as in Pelidne.

Distribution ⁴

The Pink-edged Sulphur is a typical boreal species, occuring from the eastern seaboard west to BC south to Oregon and Montana. In the eastern US, it is found only in the northermost states (Opler 1999).

Habitat ⁵

Open woodlands (particularly pine) with a blueberry understory.

Migration ⁶

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Conservation status ⁷

Not of concern.

Sources and Credits

1. (c) Denis Doucet, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Denis Doucet
2. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colias_interior
3. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884606
4. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884605
5. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884607
6. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28795139
7. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884603

More Info

• iNaturalist.ca taxon page
• Animal Diversity Web
• Biodiversity Heritage Library
• BOLD Systems BIN search
• BugGuide
• Butterflies and Moths of North America
• CUIC Insect Images
• Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)
• HOSTS - a Database of the World's Lepidopteran Hostplants
• Maryland Biodiversity Project
• Maryland Moths
• Mass Moths
• Moth Photographers Group
• NatureServe Explorer 2.0
• Pacific Northwest Moths

Range Map

(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

iNaturalist.ca Map