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Species Details
Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum Read more about this collection »
Common NamePink-edged Sulphur
SeasonalityOne flight annually, peaking in early July to early August.
IdentificationCan 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.
Scientific Name
Colias interior
Common Name
Pink-edged Sulphur
Habitat
Open woodlands (particularly pine) with a blueberry understory.
Seasonality
One flight annually, peaking in early July to early August.
Identification
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…
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.
Life History
Immature stages of the western populations are not known, but in the east, eggs turn orange (greenish yellow) soon after being laid. Mature larvae are dark yellowish-green with a dark dorsal stripe and a white and red…
Immature stages of the western populations are not known, but in the east, eggs turn orange (greenish yellow) soon after being laid. Mature larvae are dark yellowish-green with a dark dorsal stripe and a white and red lateral stripe (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Larvae hibernate.
Conservation
Not of concern.
Diet Info
The larva feeds on blueberry (Vaccinium spp.) (Layberry et al. 1998), but it has not been reared in Alberta.
Range
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).
Citation
Page Citation for Colias interior
Page Citation
"Species Details - Colias interior, University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum." University of Alberta Museums Search Site, https://search.museums.ualberta.ca/g/2-2545/9-17309. Accessed 24 Feb. 2025.
References
Author
Opler, Paul A.
Title
A field guide to western butterflies.
Publication Date
1999
Pages
540
Author
Bird, C. D., G.J. Hilchie, N.G. Kondla, E.M. Pike and F. A. H. Sperling
Title
Alberta Butterflies
Publication Date
1995
Pages
349
Author
Guppy, Crispin S. and Jon H. Shepard
Title
Butterflies of British Columbia.
Publication Date
2001
Pages
414
Author
Layberry, Ross A.; Hall, Peter W. and J. Donald LaFontaine
Title
The Butterflies of Canada
Publication Date
1998
Pages
280
Specimen Information
There are 73 specimens of this Species.
UASM33395 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rocky Mountain House
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1997-07-05
UASM33396 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Athabasca River (JASNP)
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1985-08-03
UASM33397 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Athabasca River (JASNP)
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1985-08-03
UASM33398 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Hailstone Butte
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1993-07-29
UASM33399 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rocky Mountain House
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1993-07-28
UASM33400 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Richardson River
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected2000-08-22
UASM33401 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Mount Stearn
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected2000-07-27
UASM33402 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Opal
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1999-07-04
UASM33403 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Hailstone Butte
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1993-07-29
UASM33404 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, West Castle River Road
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1993-07-31
UASM33405 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Plateau Mountain
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1988-08-27
UASM33406 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Kananaskis Country, Hailstone Butte
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1993-07-29
UASM33407 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rocky Mountain House
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1993-07-28
UASM33408 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rocky Mountain House
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1993-07-28
UASM33422 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Athabasca River (JASNP)
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1985-08-03
UASM33423 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Jasper National Park, Athabasca River (JASNP)
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1985-08-03
UASM33498 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, West Castle River Road
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1993-07-31
UASM33500 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, West Castle River Road
Collected ByLawrie, D.
Date Collected1993-07-31
BIRD6181 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Medicine Lake Recreation Area
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2003-08-06
BIRD6182 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Medicine Lake Recreation Area
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2003-08-06
BIRD17223 - Colias interior
University of Alberta E.H. Strickland Entomological Museum
Place CollectedCanada: Alberta, Rimbey
Collected ByBird, C. D.
Date Collected2006-07-21