Invertebrates
Clouded Yellow
Colias croceus · also called clouded yellow butterfly
Over a sun-baked clover field after crossing the Channel, a clouded yellow skims the ground on deep yellow wings, one of thousands that have flown north from the Mediterranean.
Overview
The clouded yellow, Colias croceus, is a Least Concern butterfly of open grassland and clover fields in southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, and a migrant to countries farther north. Its deep yellow wings, pale helice form, and mass migrations make it one of the most eagerly watched butterflies in Europe.
A migrant from the south
Each summer the clouded yellow colonises the north afresh, so the number seen in a given year depends on how many arrive from the Mediterranean.
Status
Least Concern, widespread and common in its southern range.
Clouded Yellow: common questions
Does the clouded yellow migrate?
Yes, it flies north each year from southern Europe and North Africa to colonise more northerly countries.
What is a clouded yellow year?
A year when numbers in Britain are unusually high, with thousands of migrants arriving from the south.
What is the helice form?
It is a pale, creamy-white form of the female clouded yellow.
What do clouded yellow caterpillars eat?
They feed on clovers, lucerne, and other legumes.