It's a mixed up puddle party!
In attendance Pink-edged Sulphurs (Colias interior) and Clouded Sulphurs (Colias philodice) in Tucker County, West Virginia
A small ID hint... look for the circle on his (yes, they are males) hindwing... if the large circle has a small satellite spot, it is a Clouded Sulphur and if the butterfly has only one circle, it is a Pink-edged Sulphur. This is an important ID marker when the butterfly is worn and the pink edges are no longer so very obvious.
Sometimes habitat gives a hint, because the Pink-edged is present in bogs and heaths and brushy areas with wild blueberries, but in this location the two Sulphur species are flying together. One, a habitat specialist, the other a generalist.
In this puddle party, the Pink-edged is the single one to the left and the Cloudeds are the two to the right. The one flying and the one with open wings also seems to be Pink-edged. The one on the bottom left is a Clouded Sulphur.
It's a mixed up puddle party!
In attendance Pink-edged Sulphurs (Colias interior) and Clouded Sulphurs (Colias philodice) in Tucker County, West Virginia
A small ID hint... look for the circle on his (yes, they are males) hindwing... if the large circle has a small satellite spot, it is a Clouded Sulphur and if the butterfly has only one circle, it is a Pink-edged Sulphur. This is an important ID marker when the butterfly is worn and the pink edges are no longer so very obvious.
Sometimes habitat gives a hint, because the Pink-edged is present in bogs and heaths and brushy areas with wild blueberries, but in this location the two Sulphur species are flying together. One, a habitat specialist, the other a generalist.
In this puddle party, the Pink-edged is the single one to the left and the Cloudeds are the two to the right. The one flying and the one with open wings also seems to be Pink-edged. The one on the bottom left is a Clouded Sulphur.