Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) is in the Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs family (Pieridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 12,308 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in September.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Clouded Sulphur: observations by month (U.S.)
About Clouded Sulphur
Colias philodice, the common sulphur or clouded sulphur, is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Clouded Sulphur by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vermont | 1,191 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Ohio | 995 | September | Jun–Oct |
| New York | 866 | September | Jul–Oct |
| New Hampshire | 783 | July | Jul–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 751 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Illinois | 690 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Wisconsin | 675 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Pennsylvania | 642 | August | Jul–Oct |
| Maine | 622 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Minnesota | 471 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Maryland | 448 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Virginia | 422 | September | Apr–Oct |
| Colorado | 367 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Michigan | 356 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Kentucky | 301 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 218 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Montana | 203 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Wyoming | 181 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Connecticut | 176 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Idaho | 176 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Utah | 171 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Tennessee | 151 | July | May–Oct |
| North Dakota | 141 | August | Jun–Sep |
| New Mexico | 112 | September | Aug–Oct |
| North Carolina | 109 | June | Mar–Oct |
| Nebraska | 104 | September | May–Oct |
| Iowa | 98 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 94 | October | Oct–Oct |
| Kansas | 90 | October | Aug–Oct |
| Missouri | 90 | September | Apr–Nov |
| Indiana | 87 | September | Apr–Nov |
| Washington | 86 | August | Jul–Oct |
| West Virginia | 84 | June | Jun–Oct |
| South Dakota | 59 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 56 | September | Sep–Oct |
| Oregon | 54 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Arkansas | 39 | March | Mar–May |
| Delaware | 35 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Nevada | 30 | September | Aug–Oct |
| District of Columbia | 22 | October | Oct–Oct |
| California | 21 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Arizona | 13 | August | Aug–Sep |
| Alaska | 8 | July | Jun–Jul |
| Texas | 8 | February | Feb–Feb |
| Georgia | 6 | March | Mar–Mar |
| South Carolina | 5 | September | Sep–Sep |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs)
Small White
Orange Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur
Sleepy Orange
Checkered White
Dainty Sulphur
Little Yellow
Southern Dogface
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Clouded Sulphur?
Nationally, September has the most observations, with the main season from June to October.
Where is Clouded Sulphur most often seen?
The most observations come from Vermont, Ohio, New York.