 Wingspan
Male: 52 - 56mm
Female: 52 - 62mm |
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Pale Clouded Yellow
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Colias hyale
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Linnaeus, 1758 |
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Ref: 1543 |
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| Superfamily: | Papilionoidea |
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Subfamily: | Coliadinae |
| Genus: | Colias |
| Subgenus: | |
| Species: | hyale |
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Male |
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Male Underside |
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Female |
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Female Underside |
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The Pale Clouded Yellow is an extremely rare immigrant to the British Isles, and was first recognised as occurring in England in the late 18th century. Historically, this species was considered to be an irregular migrant that could be relatively-common in some years but not seen at all in others. Between 1826 and 1950 there were 8,500 records, with over 2,000 records in 1900. Good numbers were also seen each year from 1945 to 1949. However, such numbers have not been recorded since and this species is now considered one of our rarest migrants.
This species has been recorded mainly in the south of England, the south of Ireland and the Channel Islands. However, individuals have been found as far north as Cumbria and even Scotland. In 1947 an individual was found in the Inner Hebrides. Those that reach our shores are believed to have come from northern France or central Europe.
In the British Isles, this species may be seen as early as May or June, but is normally seen in August or early September. Early migrants are known to breed and individuals seen later in the year will therefore be a combination of the offspring from these migrants, as well as new immigrants from the continent. In good years, this species may produce up to 3 generations. It would appear that this species is unable to survive the British winter, although individuals seen in 1948 are believed to have survived a mild winter. 
The haunts of this butterfly are similar to the Clouded Yellow, which includes coastal cliffs, open downland, and fields containing Lucerne or Clover, the larval foodplants.
The primary larval foodplants are Clovers (various) (Trifolium spp.) and Lucerne (Medicago sativa).
Description to be completed
This fast-flying butterfly is probably overlooked given its similarity to the more-common Clouded Yellow, especially the pale helice form of the female Clouded Yellow. Even more challenging is the distinction with the equally-scarce Berger’s Clouded Yellow. Even experienced Lepidopterists are unable to tell these two species apart, unless they have been reared from larvae, when the difference between the two species is obvious.
Description to be completed
Eggs are laid singly on leaves of the foodplant. They are extremely pale when first laid, but gradually turn deep orange, and purple before hatching. Eggs hatch after around 10 days.
In favourable conditions, larvae can feed up rapidly. Those that do not produce the next generation enter hibernation, curled up in dry leaves, and also change colour from a light green to a dull olive, reverted back to light green after hibernation. However, it would appear that the larva is unable to survive the winter in the British Isles. The larva goes through 5 moults in total and this stage lasts about a month for the summer brood.
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Pale Clouded Yellow with Berger's Clouded Yellow
Photo © Pete Eeles
30-Oct-2009 |
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The pupa is attached to a plant stem or leaf by a silk girdle and the cremaster. This stage lasts around 2 weeks.
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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