Colias crocea, common name Clouded Yellow. Wingspan 46mm to 54 mm
Adults fly from March to October in southern Europe
Colias crocea are the most widespread of the Colias species found throughout Europe. Breeding ranges from North Africa and South Europe, extending Eastwards through Turkey into the Middle East. Some years In favourable weather conditions, they can migrate as far North to Southern Finland. It is only a permanent resident in the warm Mediterranean region as the larvae are not able to survive throughout the year north of the Alps. This species is famous for the occasional mass migrations into the United Kingdom.
Habitat: Wide range of warm flowery meadows suiting its caterpillars host plants, as well as coastal cliffs and open chalk hills, mainly up to around 2000m above sea level.
In southern Europe and North Africa breeding is continuous throughout the year, a single female can lay up to 600 eggs on the leaves of food plants.
The young caterpillars are yellow-green, black head. When mature, become dark green with a white red spotted lateral line after the third moult. Pupae being green with a yellow side stripe.
The caterpillars are fast growing, in the warm weather they will have a chance of pupating within a month after having four moults. The pupae stay attached to the foodplant stem by a silk girdle. Pupation takes about two to three weeks, in good years three generations can be achieved in a single year.
A wide range of leguminous plants are favoured by the larvae, like: Faboideae (Medicago, lotus, Trifolium pratense, Vicia, lotus) etc.
Jacobaea vulgaris (Ragwort) Cirsium and Carduus (Thistles) being the plants favoured by the adults to feed on.