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Species account
Gul Høsommerfugl
(Colias hyale)
Linnaeus (1758)
Hvidvinger (Pieridae)
PCYE
24845
Pale Clouded Yellow (gb)
Ljusgul Höfjäril (se)
Subspecies
hyale
Europe, Ukraine, S Russia.
alta
Staudinger (1886) - A large form with a broad black marginal band provisionally accepted as a full species that flies only at high altitudes in Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. Quote: but it may only be a subspecies of C. hyale. by Grieshuber & Lamas, 2007. (wikipedia)
altaica
Verity (1911) - Altaï.
irkutskana
Stauder (1924).
palidis
Fruhstorfer (1910) - East Siberia.
novasinensis
Reissinger (1989) - Gansu.
Measurements:
WS: 40-52mm
Flight period:
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| SE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Identification:
Above the male is yellow and the female more white. Both show pale spots in the black tip the forewing which is translucent in strong sunlight. Below the male shows a line of black spots running along the submarginal area, less well-marked on females. Centrally on the hindwing below it has a large white spot encircled by red.
The female shows less black on the hindwing border than on croceus (Orange Høsommerfugl), and without pale spots.
The fast low flight and the broad dark borders to the upper wing should eliminate confusion with the more common whites in the area.
Very similar to Sydlig Høsommerfugl (Colias alfacariensis) [Berger's Clouded Yellow ~ Colias Pálida ~ Kronillhöfjäril]. There exist a range of subtle differences on the upperside, but generally the only marked difference between the two is different larva morphology.
The female shows less black on the hindwing border than on croceus (Orange Høsommerfugl), and without pale spots.
The fast low flight and the broad dark borders to the upper wing should eliminate confusion with the more common whites in the area.
Very similar to Sydlig Høsommerfugl (Colias alfacariensis) [Berger's Clouded Yellow ~ Colias Pálida ~ Kronillhöfjäril]. There exist a range of subtle differences on the upperside, but generally the only marked difference between the two is different larva morphology.
Similar species:
Life stages:
Distribution:
C Europe, NE Turkey, NW Asia, NE China
Habitat:
Clover and Alfalfa fields or other flower rich areas.
Behavior:
Fast flyer.
Status:
In Nordic region mostly a rare migrant from the south. Occasionally breeds in southern part. Probably been more frequent in recent years. By climate changes and perhaps by larger awareness. Birders gone Butts.
The commonest of the Colias species in Denmark.
The commonest of the Colias species in Denmark.
Host plants:
Lucerne (Medicago sativa) [Alfalfa ~ Lucerna ~ Foderlusern]
Rød-Kløver (Trifolium pratense) [Red Clover ~ Trébol Rojo ~ Rödklöver]
Almindelig Kællingetand (Lotus corniculatus) [Bird's-foot Trefoil ~ Loto Corniculado ~ Käringtand]
Rød-Kløver (Trifolium pratense) [Red Clover ~ Trébol Rojo ~ Rödklöver]
Almindelig Kællingetand (Lotus corniculatus) [Bird's-foot Trefoil ~ Loto Corniculado ~ Käringtand]
Feeding plants:
Lucerne (Medicago sativa) [Alfalfa ~ Lucerna ~ Foderlusern]
Rød-Kløver (Trifolium pratense) [Red Clover ~ Trébol Rojo ~ Rödklöver]
Rød-Kløver (Trifolium pratense) [Red Clover ~ Trébol Rojo ~ Rödklöver]
Comment:
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1977
(6 photos)
2023-07-21 Elkenøre Strand (Falster), Denmark
Imago ♀ Diget. My first, in present butterfly-era. I found 4 in a few hundred meters along the dike. The vegetation seemed much richer here than on the dike at Bøtø, in front of the parking space. Female mainly because of the general paleness above and below centrally on the forewing. |
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1978
(3 photos)
2023-07-21 Elkenøre Strand (Falster), Denmark
Imago ♂ Diget. |
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2302
(3 photos)
2023-09-09 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark
Imago ♂ Granatvej. Number 2 of todays 3 specimens that I found; in the same spot at granathøj. Not sure about sex, but it is probably too yellow for a normal female and from the little you can see in photo 1 of the underside the forewing doesn't seem to be pale enough in the center to fit a female. And the black markings along the outer margin of the upper hindwing are probably also too strong for a female. |
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2303
(2 photos)
2023-09-09 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark
Imago ♂ Granathøj. Number 1 of todays 3 specimens that I found - while scouting for a young Pallid Harrier that visited a few days. Warm colored center of the forewing underside goes with the male. The flowers were widely spread out and this one as the other two only lingered on for a few seconds. |
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2382
(3 photos)
2023-09-10 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark
Imago ♂ Granathøj. Apparently the dry stretch along Granatvej is good for the species, this being my second consecutive day with the species here. And Duus and Lars Hansen also had it some days ago. Earlier in the day I had another specimen seen from a distance that looked paler. |
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2383
(3 photos)
2023-09-10 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark
Imago ♂ Diget ved Kalvebodbroen. Knowing that the dry areas along Granatvej was good for the species, I imagined that the dike close to the bridge would be similar. Dry with scarce short vegetation and flowers. And it was! I had 4 different animals in a short hour. But they were not just staying put and foraging as I had imagined, but were actually migrating. The strong southern hot wind helping them on their way. Being a quick flyer and on the move it wasn't easy to catch up with them, but fortunately this one paused for a short feeding-while before flying west along the bridge. |
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2392
(3 photos)
2023-09-27 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark
Imago ♂ Svenskehøjvej. No shame to be overtaken on your bike by a hyale at good speed..! |