North American Butterflies and Moths List

The definitive website on wildbirds & nature

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of Alaska

Giant Sulphur (Colias gigantea)

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Giant Sulphur (Colias gigantea Strecker)

Wing span: 2 - 2 3/4 inches (5.1 - 7 cm).

Identification: Upper surface of male yellow with narrow black borders; lower surface without submarginal black spots. Female with 2 forms, yellow or white; both may have black border reduced or lacking.

Life history: Third-stage caterpillars overwinter.

Flight: One flight from June-July.

Caterpillar hosts: Dwarf willow (Salix reticulata).

Adult food: Flower nectar.

Habitat: Willow bogs.

Range: Alaska south along Rocky Mountains to Wyoming.

Conservation: Not usually required.

Management needs: Not reported.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

References:

 
Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. 1984. Butterflies east of the  Great Plains.    
     Johns Hopkins University Press, Baltimore. 294 pages, 54 color plates.

Opler, P. A. and V. Malikul. 1992. A field guide to eastern  butterflies. 
     Peterson field guide #4. Houghton-Mifflin Co.,  Boston. 396 pages, 
     48 color plates.

Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies.  Houghton-Mifflin 
     Co., Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

State and Regional References:

Layberry, R.A., Hall, P.W. & Lafontaine, D.J., 1998.  The Butterflies of 
     Canada.  University of Toronto Press, Toronto, ON.  280 pp. 

Distribution Map Not Available

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