Labrador Sulphur
Common NameLabrador Sulphur
Scientific NameColias nastes
FamilyPieridae
SubfamilyColiadinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Primary Colorspale green, grey, white
HabitatArctic tundra, alpine meadows, rocky slopes
Geographic RangeArctic North America (Alaska, Canada, Greenland), northern Europe, Siberia
Host PlantsAstragalus, Oxytropis, Hedysarum
Flight PeriodJuly to August
Flight Styledarting
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as a larva, typically in its second or third instar, feeding on arctic legumes. Adults emerge for a single brood in mid-summer.
Identification TipsKey features include its pale, often greenish coloration, a distinct dark spot on the forewing (visible on the underside), and its exclusive occurrence in arctic and alpine environments.
Description
A medium-sized butterfly with pale, often greenish-white or yellowish wings, typically displaying a dark spot on the forewing and a mottled greenish-grey underside.
