UK Butterflies

Building a Community of Responsible Butterfly Enthusiasts in Britain & Ireland

Moorland Clouded Yellow

Colias palaeno

KO-lee-uss pal-EE-no

Wingspan
♂ 46 - 50 mm, ♀ 50 - 52 mm

Checklist Number
B39

Moorland Clouded Yellow

Colias palaeno

KO-lee-uss pal-EE-no

Wingspan
♂ 46 - 50 mm, ♀ 50 - 52 mm

Checklist Number
B39


There are unconfirmed reports of this species appearing on the south coast, between Brighton and Lewes in Sussex, between 1820 and 1840. A single specimen was caught near Lewes in July 1923, flying with Clouded Yellow. Although this species is not particularly migratory, it is believed that individuals may get caught up in a stream of other immigrants. Another theory is that individuals are accidentally imported as pupae, on alpine plants, from the continent.

This species was first defined in Linnaeus (1761) as shown here (type locality: Sweden).