Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)
Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)
Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)
Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)
Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)
Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)

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Mountain Clouded Yellow (Colias phicomone)


Photo © Albert Vliegenthart
FamilyPieridae
SubfamilyColiadinae
GenusColias
Speciesphicomone
Authority(Esper, [1780])
English NameMountain Clouded Yellow
European Red List 2010Near Threatened (NT)
EU 27 Red List 2010Near Threatened (NT)
European Red List 2025Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 Red List 2025Least Concern (LC)
Habitats Directive
Bern Convention
CITES

Description

The Mountain Clouded Yellow has its breeding ground in flower-rich alpine meadows. Although they are quick, strong flyers, they are not migrants and do not leave their habitat. Various leguminous plants are used as larval foodplant, including Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa), White Clover (Trifolium repens), Common Birdsfoot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), and vetches (Vicia spp.). This butterfly species usually only has one generation a year, but in some years there is a partial second brood. The caterpillars hibernate after their second moult.

Distribution

Andorra / Austria / France / France: Mainland / Germany / Italy / Italy: Mainland / Liechtenstein / Spain / Spain: Mainland / Switzerland /

Larval Foodplants

#OrderFamilyGenusSpeciesVernacular NameLink
1FabalesFabaceaeHippocrepiscomosaHorseshoe Vetch
2FabalesFabaceaeLotuscorniculatusCommon Bird's-foot-trefoil
3FabalesFabaceaeTrifoliumpallescens