Head to head
Clouded Yellow vs Clouded Sulphur
Clouded Yellow
VS Clouded Sulphur
The clouded yellow of Europe and the clouded sulphur of North America are two close relatives in the genus Colias, both clover-feeding yellow butterflies of open country.
| Clouded Yellow | Clouded Sulphur | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Colias croceus | Colias philodice |
| Relationship | A close relative of the clouded sulphur, in the same genus | A close relative of the clouded yellow, in the same genus |
| Colour | Deep yellow-orange wings with broad black borders | Pale yellow wings edged with a dark border |
| Caterpillar food | Clovers, lucerne, and other legumes | Clover, alfalfa, and other legumes |
| Range | Southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, migrating north each summer | Fields, roadsides, and agricultural land across nearly all of North America |
| Behaviour | Flies fast and low over open ground and rarely settles with its wings open | Gathers by the dozens at mud puddles to take in salts and minerals |
| Forms and hybrids | Some females are a pale, creamy-white form known as helice | Readily hybridises with the closely related orange sulphur |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, with a stable population | Least Concern, with a stable population |
Clouded Yellow vs Clouded Sulphur: common questions
Which Colias is a migrant to Britain?
The clouded yellow, which flies north each year from southern Europe and North Africa.
Which butterfly gathers at mud puddles?
The clouded sulphur, which gathers in groups at mud puddles to take in salts and minerals.
Where do the clouded yellow and clouded sulphur live?
The clouded yellow lives in southern Europe, North Africa, and western Asia, while the clouded sulphur lives across nearly all of North America.