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Scientific Name Colias meadii Common Name Mead's Sulphur Habitat Lush subalpine and alpine meadows. Seasonality One brood, the flight peaking between early July to early August. Identification

The only other Alberta Colias with a dorsal orange colour that extends all the way to the forewing base is the Canada Sulphur (C. canadensis). The Canada Sulphur, however, has the pink outline of the underside discal…

The only other Alberta Colias with a dorsal orange colour that extends all the way to the forewing base is the Canada Sulphur (C. canadensis). The Canada Sulphur, however, has the pink outline of the underside discal spot smeared outwards, and is a brighter orange (not burnt-orange). Our populations are subspecies elis.
D. Macaulay image

Read More + Life History

A description of the immature stages is summarized by Guppy & Shepard (2001). The yellow-green eggs are conical in shape. The mature larvae are dark yellowish-green and covered in short black hairs, with a yellow…

A description of the immature stages is summarized by Guppy & Shepard (2001). The yellow-green eggs are conical in shape. The mature larvae are dark yellowish-green and covered in short black hairs, with a yellow subdorsal and white lateral line. The pupae are yellow green with a dark dorsal line. It is possible that this species overwinters twice before reaching maturity.

Read More + Conservation Not of concern. Diet Info

The larval host plants are not known in Canada. in Wyoming and Colorado, subspecies meadii feeds on legumes such as Astragalus and Trifolium (Guppy & Shepard 2001). There are no published reports of adult nectar sources.

The larval host plants are not known in Canada. in Wyoming and Colorado, subspecies meadii feeds on legumes such as Astragalus and Trifolium (Guppy & Shepard 2001). There are no published reports of adult nectar sources.

Read More + Range

There are several discontinuous populations of Mead's Sulphur from Tumbler Ridge, BC south to Colorado and extreme northern New Mexico (Layberry et al. 1998, Opler 1999). It occurs primarily in the front ranges of the…

There are several discontinuous populations of Mead's Sulphur from Tumbler Ridge, BC south to Colorado and extreme northern New Mexico (Layberry et al. 1998, Opler 1999). It occurs primarily in the front ranges of the Rockies.

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