Head to head
Clouded Yellow vs Brimstone Butterfly
Clouded Yellow
VS Brimstone Butterfly
The clouded yellow and brimstone are two yellow European butterflies often confused in flight, but one is a summer migrant and the other a resident that hibernates through the winter.
| Clouded Yellow | Brimstone Butterfly | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Colias croceus | Gonepteryx rhamni |
| Colour | Deep yellow-orange wings with broad black borders | Sulphur-yellow males and pale greenish-white females |
| Underside | A pale underside with a small spot on the hindwing | Leaf-shaped wings veined like leaves, which camouflage it among foliage |
| Strategy | Flies north each year from southern Europe and North Africa to colonise more northerly countries | Hibernates as an adult among ivy, holly, and other evergreens |
| Seasonal pattern | Numbers vary hugely, with occasional clouded yellow years when thousands arrive | Often the first butterfly seen in spring, and the adult can live for about a year |
| Caterpillar food | Clovers, lucerne, and other legumes | Buckthorn and alder buckthorn |
| Habitat | Open grassland, farmland, and clover fields | Woodland edges, hedgerows, and meadows |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, with a stable population | Least Concern, with a stable population |
Clouded Yellow vs Brimstone Butterfly: common questions
Which butterfly is a migrant?
The clouded yellow, which flies north each year from southern Europe and North Africa.
Which butterfly hibernates as an adult?
The brimstone, which can live for about a year as an adult and hibernates among ivy, holly, and other evergreens.
What do their caterpillars eat?
The clouded yellow's feed on clovers and lucerne, while the brimstone's feed on buckthorn and alder buckthorn.