A Sulphur Butterfly

On a recent trip to St. Mary’s, Georgia, there were several Sulphur Butterflies fluttering about. There are two common species, the Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) and the Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme), which are difficult to distinguish in the field. Both have wide distributions, plus they sometimes hybridize.

However, it doesn’t need to be identified to enjoy it as a colorful and interesting creature. It will be with us only briefly, because they have an average life span of less than a week. In this photograph, its long proboscis can be seen probing a flower.