Euchloe ausonides coloradensis

Photo Life History: Euchloe ausonides coloradensis

Habitat:  Mountain Canyons; Mountain Hilltops; Urban-Suburban

Host Plants:  Arabis perennans; Arabis sparsiflora; Arabis drummondii; Arabis glabra; Descurainia pinnata; Sisymbrium altissimum; Streptanthus cordatus

Suitable Lab Host Plants: Brassica nigra; Isatis tinctoria; Cardaria draba

How to Find Female Butterflies:  Click here.

Caring for Live Female Butterflies:  Nectaring techniques (Females nectar as soon as feet sense moisture)

Methods of Female Oviposition:  Open Screen Cages; Portable Cages.  (There is no need to wait to set up females for oviposition.  They should lay eggs soon after capture.)

How to Find Eggs: Look on Flower Buds; Isolated Host Plants.

How to Hatch Eggs:  Separate eggs individually.

How to Find Caterpillars in the Field:  Look for Caterpillar Strip Patterns.  Last instar larvae make a conspicuous strip pattern on the flowers of their mustard host plant.  Look for younger larvae on siliques. 

How to Find Pupae in the Field: 

Caterpillar setups:  Open terrariums; Open Bucket

Larva to Pupa:  Larva Changes Color  (Changes from multi-colored  to tan.)

Number of Broods per Year:  1

Overwintering Stage:  Pupa. 

Overwintering Strategies: Your Own Backyard; Refrigerator

Post-Hibernation Strategies: Expose Pupae to warmer temperatures; Long-Day Photoperiod; High Humidity. 

Avoiding Diapause Techniques:  

Disease Prevention:  Change out host plant and remove frass every three to five days. 

Emergence:  Emergence Container

Field Notes: Flies in montane habitats emerging roughly the same time as Anthocharis julia and Pontia sisymbri.  Competes with the latter species on dyars woad. (Isatis tinctoria.)