Colias caucasica, the Balkan clouded yellow, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in the western Caucasus, in northeastern Turkey, and in the Balkan Peninsula.

Balkan clouded yellow
Colias caucasica caucasica female dorsal side
Colias caucasica caucasica male ventral side
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Colias
Species:
C. caucasica
Binomial name
Colias caucasica
Synonyms
  • Colias caucasica anna Gerhard, 1882
  • Colias caucasica olga Romanoff, 1882
  • Colias caucasica alba Rühl, [1893]

Description

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Similar to but larger and more deeply orange red than Colias myrmidone, the distal margin being more broadly black; on the underside, which is similar to that of C. myrmidone, the very large central double spot of the hindwing is prominent. The female is mostly yellowish white, rarely orange red, bearing small light submarginal spots.

Biology

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The larvae feed on Cytisus and Astragalus caucasicus.

Subspecies

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References

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  1. ^ Markku Savela. "Colias". Lepidoptera and some other life forms.