Clouded Yellow Colias crocea

Scientific Name: Colias crocea (Pieridae Coliadinae).

English Name: Clouded Yellow (Whites and Yellows family, Sulphurs sub-family).

French Name: Le Souci (='marigold').

5 Key Characters:

• upperside orange yellow, with a heavy black border. 
• medium sized (wingspan 51 - 59 mm).
• large black spot on the forewing.
• females greyer and with their black band broken up by yellow spots.
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Lookalikes: Pale Clouded Yellow C. hyale and Berger's Clouded Yellow C. alfacariensis, which are both much less common, paler and with more irregular dark borders.


Habitat: Open countryside of all sorts.


Flight Period: March-April-May-June-July-August-September-October-November.

Caterpillar and Host Plant: Pea family (Alfalfa Medicago sativa, Birdsfoot Trefoil Lotus corniculatus, Red Clover Trifolium pratense, White Clover T. repens, Horseshoe Vetch Hippocrepis comosa, Crown Vetch Coronilla varia, Common Bladder Senna Colutea arborescens).


Status: Very common, abundant and widespread.


Photographed by Loire Valley Nature:

Nectaring on the host plant Alfalfa Medicago sativa.