Bug FAQPink-edged Sulphur
Colias interior · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Pieridae
Also called: Pelidne Sulphur, pinkedged sulphur
The pink-edged sulphur is a yellow butterfly with black margins that are smaller in females, a single central spot on the hindwing, and pink edging on the wings. It lives in shrubby openings of Canadian to Hudsonian forest zones, ranging across southern Canada and the northern United States. Adults fly once between June and August; females lay eggs on blueberry plants and the caterpillars feed on several Vaccinium species and on Pilosella aurantiaca.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The butterfly is yellow with black marginal borders that are reduced in females, has one central spot on the hindwing, and pink edges on the wings.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Its wingspan ranges from about 39 to 66 mm.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It inhabits shrubby openings in Canadian to Hudsonian life zones.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
They also feed on Pilosella aurantiaca.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
There is a single adult flight period from June through August. Adult females lay their eggs on blueberry plants.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The species is on the wing once between June and August.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Colias interior is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 23 of 51 states and DC. Most records: Michigan, Maine, Idaho, West Virginia, Minnesota, Montana, Washington, New Hampshire.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: native in North America; native in Canada; native in United States. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see the pink-edged sulphur?
Adults are active in a single flight period from June to August.
Source: Wikipedia
What do the caterpillars eat?
They feed on various Vaccinium species and on Pilosella aurantiaca.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does this butterfly live?
It lives in shrubby forest openings across southern Canada and the northern United States.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pieridae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colias_interior
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.