Colias variation

[mothman27]

I am confused about the differences between Colias philodice and Colias eurytheme.
Could someone tell me which ones are which please.
1. 

2. 

3.

4.

5.

[mothman27]

6. 

[rayrard]

1,4,5, and 6 are eurytheme

2 is philodice

3 is a white form female that cannot be determined for sure.

If it has any orange on it it is eurytheme in my opinion. philodice is always lemon yellow in males and females that aren't white.

[leptraps]

I have always had an interest in Colias philodice and Colias eurytheme. My real interest began as a young teenager. I never reared either species until 2001. Then I "really" got into it. I wrote an article which appeared in the News of the Southern Lepidopterist Society: southernlepsoc.org/pdf/Vol_25_no_2.pdf

It is a rather short article considering all the effort I put into rearing. I learned a great deal, one important note I did not mention in the Article was inter breeding between Colias philodice and Colias eurytheme. I placed males of C. philodice with females of C eurytheme and vise versa. Not one pairing ever. I could hand pair each species but I could never hand pair Colias philodice with Colias eurytheme.

I had a number of issues in my life in 2004 and I let the project go. I have often thought about doing it again, and well, there was always something else that got in the way. The season of 2015 produced a bumper crop of Colias philodice and Colias eurytheme. They were everywhere. In mid-October I was out with a net and could not believe the number of Colias philodice and Colias eurytheme on the wing. I made the decision to try and solve the puzzle again. I current have 25+ Colias philodice females and a few males and 40+ Colias eurytheme females with numerous males in cages under my deck. I actually collected my last female C. eurytheme females on Christmas-eve day. We had a couple of warm days a week ago and I checked on my Colias. Several were up near the top of the cages taking in the warm sun. I will keep you posted as the season progresses. I am hopeful to say the least.

If anyone wants a copy of the Article with the color plates, send me an email: [e-mail].

And by the way, No# 2 is a female Colias philodice.

[mothman27]

How long do they live for?
Thanks Leptraps and rayrard.

[leptraps]

In the four previous attempts at taking them over the winter, the majority survived. October to late March/early April. 5 to 6 months in hibernation. Once they become active, they quickly seek out host plants and lay eggs. Most will not survive 4 to 5 weeks, at best. They also hibernate as larvae and pupae. Once emerged as adults, 3 to 4 weeks.

However, (There is always an "however" when it comes to Lepidoptera), I normally allow females to lay eggs and when they have laid most, I release them back into the wild. I have kept females caged, force fed and have them survive for up to 7 weeks. Basically they are never exposed to predators and are not eatin.

Not related to Colias, I kept an Anaea floridalis alive in a cage for almost 6 months. I got tired of feeding her and let he fly.

[mothman27]

I caught a very different pierid yesterday and I am curious as to the species. Resembles closely a WHITE form colias eurytheme/philodice, but is different.
Its black border does not contain any white spots as the others do and the border fades semi-gradually into the white. It's the same size as usual. It contains a yellow spot like the others in the center of the hind wings.
What other similar pierid species live in Northeastern Indiana?
I thought white forms were only in females. Is this incorrect? Could it be a male?

From NE Indiana, 23-Apr-2016.
I will post a pic when it comes off the setting board.

Thank you,
Tim

[mothman27]

Ideas?

[leptraps]

Colias philodice, female white form.

If you ever have the opportunity to rear this species, you will learn that when a females lays eggs, all of the females will be one color, all yellow or all white. No mixing or 10 yellow and 30 white.

[mothman27]

Thank you.

Very interesting, and great rearing article!

[leptraps]

Today while checking traps I stopped in a Clover Field near Great Crossing Park in Scott County, KY to pick up some females for my ongoing Colias rearing project. I visit the site along with two others to obtain Colias philodice and Colias eurytheme females. As I was preparing to leave the field, I saw a huge orange Colias fly up. After a short pursuit, I had her in a tube. She was huge. Almost as large as a Phoebus sennea. My predicament, to keep her to obtain ova, or into the killing jar. A great specimen for my collection. As of 8PM tonight, no eggs.

What if?? She produces more individuals of that size. Or, she never lays an egg. Or, all her off Springs are minnies or normal size?

My wife say the scientists side of me won out today. We shall see.

[Deleted]

Got to see a photo after she is spread.

[exoticimports]

Sept 14, 2016 16:58:01 GMT -8 leptraps said:

Today while checking traps I stopped in a Clover Field near Great Crossing Park in Scott County, KY to pick up some females for my ongoing Colias rearing project. I visit the site along with two others to obtain Colias philodice and Colias eurytheme females. As I was preparing to leave the field, I saw a huge orange Colias fly up. After a short pursuit, I had her in a tube. She was huge. Almost as large as a Phoebus sennea. My predicament, to keep her to obtain ova, or into the killing jar. A great specimen for my collection. As of 8PM tonight, no eggs.

What if?? She produces more individuals of that size. Or, she never lays an egg. Or, all her off Springs are minnies or normal size?

My wife say the scientists side of me won out today. We shall see.

Yeah, well I heard that about sasquatch too. How about a photo?

[Deleted]

Colias sasquach. How interesting! That would explain the larger than normal size

[mothman27]

Would love to see a pic!