Posts Tagged: Colias eurytheme

Wrong Place at the Wrong Time

For the first butterfly, it was the right place at the right time. An alfalfa or sulfur butterfly (Colias eurytheme) fluttered into our pollinator garden in Vacaville to sip some nectar from a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia). It...

An alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, nectaring on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gotcha! This unfortunate alfalfa butterfly fluttered into the wrong place at the wrong time. In its larval stage, it is a pest of alfalfa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Gotcha! This unfortunate alfalfa butterfly fluttered into the wrong place at the wrong time. In its larval stage, it is a pest of alfalfa. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A Butterfly Invasion in Yolo, Solano and Sacramento Counties

If you think there's a butterfly invasion in the three-county area of Yolo, Solano and Sacramento, wait until you hear what Art Shapiro, distinguished professor evolution and ecology at the University of California, Davis, says about...

The sulphur or alfalfa butterfly, (Colias eurytheme) is widespread now in Solano, Yolo and Sacramento counties and is the biggest invasion in 20 or 30 years, says Art Shapiro, distinguished professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

The sulphur or alfalfa butterfly, (Colias eurytheme) is widespread now in Solano, Yolo and Sacramento counties and is the biggest invasion in 20 or 30 years, says Art Shapiro, distinguished professor of evolution and ecology at UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

San Francisco-based artist-lepidopterist Liam O'Brien depicts the alfalfa butterfly in a book to be published by Heyday Press in 2014. (Image courtesy of Liam O'Brien)

San Francisco-based artist-lepidopterist Liam O'Brien depicts the alfalfa butterfly in a book to be published by Heyday Press in 2014. (Image courtesy of Liam O'Brien)

The Butterfly and the Bee

It's a strikingly beautiful insect. But in its larval stage, the alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme--also known as the orange sulphur butterfly--is a pest. If you grow alfalfa, you're not a fan of this butterfly, and rightfully so. "Alfalfa...

An alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, sips nectar from an African blue basil blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

An alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, sips nectar from an African blue basil blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee shadows an alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, on African blue basil. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

A honey bee shadows an alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, on African blue basil. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two can get along: the alfalfa butterfly and the honey bee. In its larval stage, this butterfly is a pest. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Two can get along: the alfalfa butterfly and the honey bee. In its larval stage, this butterfly is a pest. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Seeing Yellow: Why? Outbreak of Alfalfa Butterflies

If you've been driving near alfalfa fields in Yolo County and other Central California counties lately, you've probably noticed them. Splat! Splat! Splat! What was that? A squadron of flying insects? No, more like multiple squadrons of flying...

Alfalfa butterfly trapped in a spider web and doused by a sprinkler. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Alfalfa butterfly trapped in a spider web and doused by a sprinkler. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Alfalfa butterfly nectaring on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Alfalfa butterfly nectaring on a Mexican sunflower (Tithonia). (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

These Colors Didn't Run

We've seen bumble bees, honey bees, sweat bees, wool carder bees and syrphid flies topple into our  swimming pool, but never an alfalfa butterfly until now. This male alfalfa butterfly--the gender identified by noted butterfly expert Art Shapiro,...

Alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, lands in a swimming pool. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Alfalfa butterfly, Colias eurytheme, lands in a swimming pool. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Fished out of the pool, the alfalfa butterfly rests on the net. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Fished out of the pool, the alfalfa butterfly rests on the net. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Placed atop a flowering artichoke, the alfalfa butterfly dries its wings. Several minutes later it fluttered away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

Placed atop a flowering artichoke, the alfalfa butterfly dries its wings. Several minutes later it fluttered away. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)

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