Clouded Sulphur Butterfly

Open fields, meadows, roadsides, and gardens across North America.

Adults feed on nectar from various flowers, particularly those with yellow, purple, or pink blossoms. Caterpillars feed on the leaves of legumes, such as clover, alfalfa, and vetch.

Clouded Sulphurs are active during the day, flying rapidly and erratically. They often bask in the sun to warm up. Males can be quite territorial. Females lay single eggs on host plants. They overwinter as caterpillars or pupae, depending on the climate.

These butterflies are beneficial as pollinators for various plants. Their caterpillars, while feeding on legumes, can occasionally be considered minor pests in agricultural fields, but generally, their impact is negligible. They pose no direct risks to humans.