Lesser Clouded Yellow (Colias chrysotheme)
Lesser Clouded Yellow (Colias chrysotheme)
Lesser Clouded Yellow (Colias chrysotheme)
Lesser Clouded Yellow (Colias chrysotheme)
Lesser Clouded Yellow (Colias chrysotheme)
Lesser Clouded Yellow (Colias chrysotheme)

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Lesser Clouded Yellow (Colias chrysotheme)


Photo © Chris van Swaay
FamilyPieridae
SubfamilyColiadinae
GenusColias
Specieschrysotheme
Authority(Esper, [1781])
English NameLesser Clouded Yellow
European Red List 2010Vulnerable (VU)
EU 27 Red List 2010Vulnerable (VU)
European Red List 2025Endangered (EN)
EU 27 Red List 2025Endangered (EN)
Habitats Directive
Bern Convention
CITES

Description

The Lesser Clouded Yellow is found on open, dry, steppe-like grassland and rocky slopes. Its main foodplant is the Milk-vetch (Astragalus austriacus), but Milk-vetch (A. glycyphyllos) and vetches (Vicia spp.) are also used. This species has three to four broods a year and hibernates as a caterpillar.

Distribution

Austria / Czechia (Regionally Extinct) / Hungary / Moldova / Netherlands (Irregular Vagrant) / Romania / European Russia / Slovakia / Ukraine /

Larval Foodplants

#OrderFamilyGenusSpeciesVernacular NameLink
1FabalesFabaceaeAstragalusaustriacus
2FabalesFabaceaeAstragalusonobrychis
3FabalesFabaceaeTrigonellacaeruleaBlue Fenugreek
4FabalesFabaceaeViciacraccaTufted Vetch
5FabalesFabaceaeViciahirsuta
6FabalesFabaceaeVicialathyroidesSpring Vetch