 Wingspan
Male: 50 - 56mm
Female: 50 - 60mm |
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Berger's Clouded Yellow
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Colias alfacariensis
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Berger, 1948 |
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Ref: 1544 |
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| Superfamily: | Papilionoidea |
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Subfamily: | Coliadinae |
| Genus: | Colias |
| Subgenus: | |
| Species: | alfacariensis |
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Male |
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Male Underside |
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![Bergers Clouded Yellow - imago - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [Guy Padfield]](image_generator.php?src=phpBB/gallery/images/cache/c7159f10edf724158e45dd46fbd70cb2.jpg&r=223&g=246&b=216 "Bergers Clouded Yellow - imago - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [Guy Padfield]") |
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Female |
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Female Underside |
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The Berger’s Clouded Yellow was identified as a distinct species from the Pale Clouded Yellow in 1945 and is named after the Belgian entomologist, L.A. Berger, who made this discovery. This species is an extremely rare immigrant to the British Isles and is not seen in some years at all. It would appear that none of the stages is able to survive the British winter, although individuals seen near Folkestone in May 1948 were believed to have survived a mild winter. Although the species was first recognised in 1945, subsequent examination of historical collections have turned up around 50 specimens, the earliest of which is an individual taken in Folkestone in 1875. Relatively good numbers were seen each year from 1947 to 1949. However, such numbers have not been recorded since and this species is now considered one of our rarest migrants.
This species is a rare migrant to the British Isles.
In the British Isles, this species may be seen as early as May or June, but is normally seen in August or early September. The latest-ever sighting of this scarce species was at Glynde, East Sussex on 27th October 1945. 
The haunts of this butterfly are similar to the Clouded Yellow, which includes coastal cliffs and open downland.
The primary larval foodplant is Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa).
Description to be completed
As for the Pale Clouded Yellow, this butterfly is probably overlooked given its similarity to the much commoner Clouded Yellow, especially the pale helice form of the female Clouded Yellow. Even more challenging is the distinction with the equally-scarce Pale Clouded Yellow. Even experienced Lepidopterists are unable to tell these two species apart, unless they have been reared from larvae, when there is an obvious difference.
Description to be completed
Eggs are laid singly on the leaves of Horseshoe Vetch, the sole foodplant in the British Isles (Crown Vetch, Coronilla varia is also used on the continent). They are a pale yellow when first laid, gradually becoming pink and, eventually, orange prior to hatching. The eggs hatch in 7 to 10 days.
Early-instar larvae live low down on the foodplant although late-instar larvae are sun-lovers and feed quite openly on the leaves of the foodplant. The larva has a yellow stripe running down each side of the body, allowing it to be distinguished from other Colias species.
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Pale Clouded Yellow with Berger's Clouded Yellow
Photo © Pete Eeles
30-Oct-2009 |
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The length of this stage is highly variable, ranging from just over a week to a little under 3 weeks, depending on temperature.
Description to be completed
Description to be completed
No videos are currently available for this species.
No sites found.
This species is a rare migrant and no conservation action is relevant.
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:
- A Natural History of British Butterflies, by F.W.Frohawk.
- British and Irish Butterflies, by Adrian M. Riley
- South's British Butterflies, by T.G.Howarth (which is based extensively on the classic work, "The Butterflies of the British Isles", by Richard South).
- The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland, by Jeremy Thomas and Richard Lewington.
- The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, by Jim Asher, Martin Warren, Richard Fox, Paul Harding, Gail Jeffcoate, Stephen Jeffcoate.
- The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 7 (1) Hesperiidae to Nymphalidae (the Butterflies), by A. Maitland Emmet and John Heath (editors).
- The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, Richard Fox, Jim Asher, Tom Brereton, David Roy and Martin Warren.
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![Bergers Clouded Yellow - imago - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [Guy Padfield]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/c7159f10edf724158e45dd46fbd70cb2.jpg "Bergers Clouded Yellow - imago - Unknown location - Unknown date (2) [Guy Padfield]")
