Colias alfacariensis

Berger's Clouded Yellow (Colias alfacariensis)

2024 photographs highlighted in yellow. Click on any photograph to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.


45713_male_Bouches-du-Rhône_25Aug18	10060_male_Var_25Apr08	26513_male_Alpes-Maritimes_07Jul11	27461_male_Isère_18Jul11

23937_male_Var_15Sep10	10035_pair_Var_25Apr08	16726_pair_Var_25Jun09	45359_female_Hautes-Alpes_6Jul18

23581_female_Var_2Sep10	36979_female_Var_21Apr15	38273_female_Hautes-Alpes_9Jul15	40149_female_Var_19Apr16

52171_female _Cuneo, Italy_14Jun24	42247_ovum_Var_25Sep16

Alfacariensis is almost impossible to differentiate from the Pale Clouded Yellow (C. hyale) on external characteristics alone, given that Colias species never settle with open wings. The existence of alfacariensis as a separate species was not confirmed until around 1947 and many illustrations and photographs labelled as hyale in books prior to that date were in fact alfacariensis.

My experience is that most specimens which could be either, turn out to be alfacariensis. Hyale seems to be quite scarce in France, and I am not sure this was always the case, so maybe it is diminishing, but identification problems probably preclude any such conclusions. The larvae are different.

Both are clearly a paler yellow than the Clouded Yellow (C. crocea), so confusion there is almost impossible (but see 26513), except with helice females. Alfacariensis is generally a stronger lemon yellow, and hyale rather paler, hence the name, although hyale's "pale" name came coincidentally from its comparison with crocea, not alfacariensis. The principal differences between alfacariensis and hyale are addressed on the hyale page.

ref	sex	observations	alt. m
45713	M	*a beautifully fresh male alfacariensis* stopping for a brief moment in inclement weather.**	640
10060	M	a male alfacariensis, a slight curvature even though the apex appears pointed (this may have been exaggerated by the camera angle). A very bright yellow ground colour, especially in the unf apical area, with a couple of yellow splashes below.	185
26513	M	a male, but I am far from 100% certain that this is not crocea. One expert has expressed the view that it is definitely crocea. The reasons for my doubts arise from the fact that I saw it in flight and appeared distinctly pale. Alfacariensis and crocea are very easy to identify in flight. The unh colour does look rather suffused and crocea-like (possibly an altitude effect), but the yellow patch on the unf looks too pale for crocea. There appears to be a gap in the upf apical black mark (as viewed through the wing), which indicates alfacariensis, as crocea male is solid here. The upf black apical mark looks slightly jagged, matching the upf marks, whereas crocea is usually almost straight here. Also the upf costa is not as marked with dark scales as I would expect for crocea. On balance, I feel the evidence points more toward alfacariensis but comment is invited.	1400
27461	M	*a male, clearly alfacariensis. The upf line of the black apical mark is clearly visible and jagged.*	1050
23937	M	a typical male in terms of both colouring and forewing shape.	780
10035	M	the male of a mating pair. A very slight forewing curvature, but very bright yellow, despite the widespread darker speckling of scales. Note the female is hanging off the edge with no foothold. No manners, this male!	185
16726	M	a mating pair. The male is probably the one on the right.	220
45359	F	I believe this to be a female alfacariensis. I stress "I believe" to indicate a degree of uncertainty. I originally thought 45359 was a Mountain Clouded Yellow (C. phicomone) on the basis that it was seen at high altitude and the degree of white usually points to phicomone at altitude, and that I have never seen alfacariensis at such a high altitude (despite the fact that TLID quotes the altitude range as 0-2400m). However, it just doesn't look right for phicomone, and I conclude that it must be alfacariensis. Hyale can be precluded as it doesn't occur in this part of the world. Comment is invited.	1830
23581	F	*a typical female. The bright yellow and pure white are indicative of alfacariensis* rather than female crocea of the form helice, I believe.**	780
36979	F	a female, rather heavily scaled on the unh.	220
38273	F	a female, egg-laying on what appears to be Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa), the principal larval hostplant of alfacariensis. It is highly unusual in that one pair of wings is slightly smaller than the other.	620
40149	F	a rather crisp and pure white female.	220
52171	F	a mating pair, the female above. For the sake of the photograph, it is better that the pristine female was occupying centre stage and the rather worn male staying somewhat out of shot.	1330
42247	OVUM	*an egg, freshly laid on the larval hostplant, Hippocrepis comosa. The egg changes colour, reddening, after a few days.*	220