Two submarginal black spots in female, one in male. Spring and fall short-day form is smaller, less yellow, with reduced black areas.
Females lay single eggs on undersides of host leaves.
It is usually the first butterfly to emerge in spring. Flower nectar from a very wide array of plants including mustards, dandelion, red clover, asters, and mints. G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Opler, P. A. and G. O. Krizek. Butterflies east of the Great Plains.