Description :
A strong, fast-flying butterfly butterfly which feeds and lays its eggs on various species of clover. It is less common in Britain today, a metion shoud be made that the Clouded Yellow has been a more regular visitor to the UK over the last five years or so with individuals being reported as far north as Southern Scotland. Spring migrants from the south of France may give rise to autumn butterflies raised in Britain, but none of these survives the winter in any stage.
The butterflies' deep yellow colour 'clouded' by a broad, dark border makes it obvious from afar. The female clouded yellow differs from the male in that the dark wing border is yellow spotted, whereas the male has no spots on the wing border. Sometimes confused with the female Pale Clouded Yellow, the helice form of the female clouded yellow is very easy to confuse with the Pale Clouded Yellow and perhaps many reports of Pale Clouded Yellows are mistakeny identified example of the helice form but the black margins are less extensive in the Pale Clouded and the underside of hindwing is a much brighter yellow without any grey clouding.
The caterpillar is green and has a line of yellow and red and also a row of black spots on the side.
Distribution :
Occasional, anywhere in Britain. It migrates to the North during Summer but are a year long resident in Southern Europe North Africa and South-western Australia
Habitat:
Clouded Yellows may be seen in any habitat, but congregate in flowery places where the larval foodplants grow. As clovers are still commonly cultivated, the Clouded Yellow is one of the few butterfly species that has no difficulty locating breeding habitat in the modern farmed countryside. In Southern England there is a preference for unimproved chalk downland.
Diet:
A range of leguminous plants is used, including wild and cultivated
clovers, Lucerne, and less frequently, Common Bird''s-foot-trefoil.
Status:
UK BAP status: not assessed
European threat status: not listed
