Mountain Clouded Yellow
Common NameMountain Clouded Yellow
Scientific NameColias palaeno
FamilyPieridae
SubfamilyColiadinae
Wingspan (mm)45
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorspale yellow, greenish-yellow
HabitatHigh altitude meadows, bogs, tundra, open coniferous forests, subalpine and alpine zones
Geographic RangeCircumpolar boreo-alpine distribution, including northern Europe, Asia, and North America (Alaska, Canada, northern US mountains)
Host PlantsVaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium myrtillus, Andromeda polifolia
Flight PeriodJune to August
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesOverwinters as a larva, typically in its third instar. Eggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae feed on Vaccinium species, and pupation occurs on the host plant.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its very pale, often greenish-yellow underside coloration. Key features include the single dark spot on the forewing underside and the white spot (often with a pinkish-red rim) on the hindwing underside. Males are typically brighter yellow on the upperside, while females can be paler, sometimes whitish.
Description
A medium-sized, pale yellow or greenish-yellow butterfly with a distinctive dark spot on the forewing underside and a white spot, often with a pinkish rim, on the hindwing underside.
