Butterfly ID
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Field guide · Sweden
Whites and yellows · Sweden

Pale Arctic clouded yellow

Colias tyche

Pale Arctic clouded yellow is a pale green and white high butterfly that lives in the northernmost Swedish mountains. It is associated with host plants Astragalus alpinus and Astragalus frigidus.

Status in this countryLeast concern in SwedenLC (Least concern)
Pale Arctic clouded yellow
Photo: (c) Oleg Kosterin, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0

Flight period

The butterflies fly between the latter half of June and the end of July, rarely into August.

Habitat

In areas with dry conditions in the northern mountain regions, specifically in the region of Picea abies (Scots pine), on slopes with a rich abundance of host plants.

Identifying features

Wingspan 34–46 mm. The wings are pale green-white on the upper side, often greener on the hindwings. The broad, dark grey borders are softly delineated with elongated spots. The forewing has a distinct dark grey disc spot, and the hindwing a pale orange disc spot. The underside of the hindwing is pale greenish-yellow with heavy black dusting and a crimson-red disc spot with a white center.

Similar species

The species is similar to Hecla Sulphur and could also be mistaken for moorland clouded yellow, which is typically found at lower altitudes.

Distribution

Pale Arctic clouded yellow distribution in the Swedish mountain region is limited to the area from Lycksele Lapland to Torne Lapland. Norway is found from Nordland to the interior of Troms, and in Finland only in the mountains around Kilpisjärvi.

Biology

Host plants are Astragalus alpinus and Astragalus frigidus. Courtship and mating resemble that of moorland clouded yellow: males patrol in search of females.