Colias meadii

Edwards, 1871

Mead's Sulphur, Mead's Sulfur

Colias meadii, known as Mead's Sulphur, is a in the Pieridae native to the Rocky Mountains of North America. It inhabits high-elevation arctic-alpine environments near or at tree line. The species is active during mid-summer, with flying from July to August. It exhibits the yellow-orange wing coloration typical of sulphur butterflies, with a wingspan of 35–44 mm.

Colias meadii by (c) Christoph Moning, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Christoph Moning. Used under a CC-BY license.

Colias meadii by the Smithsonian. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Colias meadii: /ˈkoʊ.li.əs ˈmi.aɪ/

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Identification

Distinguished from other Colias by its restricted high-elevation arctic-alpine in the Rocky Mountains and its mid-summer period (July–August). The three recognized occupy different geographic portions of the range: C. m. meadii in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Montana; C. m. elis in Alberta and British Columbia; and C. m. lemhiensis in Idaho and Montana. Accurate identification to subspecies level requires knowledge of collection locality.

Images

Appearance

Medium-sized with wingspan 35–44 mm. Wings yellow to orange-yellow, typical of sulphur butterflies. Wing pattern details not specified in available sources.

Habitat

Arctic-alpine tundra and rocky slopes in high mountain areas at or near tree line. Occupies elevations where vegetation is sparse and conditions are harsh.

Distribution

Rocky Mountains in Canada and the United States. Specific range encompasses: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Alberta, and British Columbia.

Seasonality

active from July to August. Single period per year.

Diet

Larvae feed on Trifolium , Astragalus alpinus, Oxytropis deflexa, and Vicia americana. feed on flower nectar from alpine sunflower and asters.

Host Associations

Trifolium - larval level
Astragalus alpinus - larval
Oxytropis deflexa - larval
Vicia americana - larval
alpine sunflower - nectar source
asters - nectar source level

Life Cycle

Complete with , larva, pupa, and stages. Specific duration of developmental stages not documented. stage not specified in available sources.

Ecological Role

function as of alpine flowering plants. Larvae are herbivores that consume leguminous plants. Specific ecological impacts not quantified in available sources.

Human Relevance

Subject of entomological study due to its restricted alpine and sensitivity to climate change. Not known to be of agricultural or economic significance.

Similar Taxa

Colias eurythemeAlso yellow-orange sulphur , but occupies lowland agricultural and urban , not high-elevation alpine tundra. period broader, typically multiple .
Colias behriiAnother alpine sulphur in western North America, but restricted to Sierra Nevada range rather than Rocky Mountains.
Colias croceusEuropean with similar coloration; distinguished by geographic separation and migratory not observed in C. meadii.

More Details

Subspecies

Three recognized: C. m. meadii (Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Wyoming, Montana); C. m. elis Strecker, 1885 (Alberta, British Columbia); C. m. lemhiensis Curtis & Ferris, 1985 (Idaho, Montana). Subspecies differentiation based on geographic distribution rather than pronounced morphological differences.

Conservation Context

Arctic-alpine specialization makes this potentially vulnerable to climate change, as suitable habitat is restricted to narrow elevational bands near tree line.