North American Ecology (US and Canada)
provided by North American Butterfly Knowledge Network
Resident in North America (Scott 1986). Habitats are CONIFEROUS FORESTS, SAGEBRUSH, GRASSLAND, OPEN OAK WOODLAND IN CA. Host plants are usually herbaceous including many species, mostly in one family, LEGUMINOSAE. Eggs are laid on the host plant singly. One or two flights based on latitude with the approximate flight time JUN30-AUG1 depending on latitude (Scott 1986). Sometimes listed as a subspecies of Colias alexandra.
Conservation Status
provided by University of Alberta Museums
Not of concern.
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- University of Alberta Museums
Cyclicity
provided by University of Alberta Museums
One yearly flight, peaking from late June to mid August depending on habitat.
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- University of Alberta Museums
Distribution
provided by University of Alberta Museums
Alaska to Manitoba, south to Wyoming and South Dakota (Opler 1999).
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- University of Alberta Museums
General Description
provided by University of Alberta Museums
Males of the Christina Sulphur can be recognized by the following characteristics: at least some bright orange on the upperside, but not extending all the way to the base of the forewing (as in C. meadii and C. canadensis), row of underside submarginal spots absent (usually) or weakly developed (rarely). Females are more difficult to identify with certainty because of the huge amount of variation they exhibit, both in ground colour (Orange, yellow, cream or white) and the extent of the dark border (nearly absent to well-developed). However, like the males, the underside spots are usually absent, and orange forms have a yellow forewing base. Our northern boreal populations are subspecies christina (Christina was described from northeastern Alberta), but designation of a subspecies to non-boreal populations remains uncertain (Bird et al. 1995).
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- University of Alberta Museums
Habitat
provided by University of Alberta Museums
Most common in mountain meadows, also boreal pine woodlands and fescue grasslands.
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- University of Alberta Museums
Life Cycle
provided by University of Alberta Museums
The mature larva is dark green with a white basal stripe, dashed with red behind each spiracle. Pupae are yellow-green with broad yellow stripe (Guppy & Shepard 2001).
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- University of Alberta Museums
Trophic Strategy
provided by University of Alberta Museums
The larval foodplants are presumed to include Buffalo Bean (Thermopsis rhombifolia) and Hedysarum sulphurescens in Alberta, since females lay eggs on these species (Bird et al. 1995). Other legume species are also likely hosts.
- license
- cc-by-nc
- copyright
- University of Alberta Museums
Colias christina
provided by wikipedia EN
Colias christina, the Christina sulphur, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in western North America. Its range includes the Yukon and Northwest Territories south through British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan to Wyoming, Montana, and Utah.[1][2] This species was named in honor of its first collector Christina Ross.[3]
Description
Colias christina has slight orange-red ground colour and is conspicuous by the yellow basal part of both wings. The underside has no markings except the median spot. The female is almost white, its forewing with only a little dark dusting at the distal margin and black, white-centred median spot. Wingspan is from 35 to 52 mm.[1] Its habitats include montane forest roads, trails, glades, and clearings.[4]
Biology
Flight period is from May until September.[1]
Larvae feed on Trifolium and Hedysarum spp.[1][2]
Subspecies
Listed alphabetically.[2]
-
C. c. astraea Edwards, 1872 (Montana, Wyoming, Utah)
-
C. c. christina (Montana, Washington, British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, Northwest Territories)
References
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
Colias christina: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
Colias christina, the Christina sulphur, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in western North America. Its range includes the Yukon and Northwest Territories south through British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan to Wyoming, Montana, and Utah. This species was named in honor of its first collector Christina Ross.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
