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Colias alfacariensis / Berger's Clouded Yellow
Verdhoshja e turbulit e Bergerit
Pieridae - Coliadinae
Colias alfacariensis Ribbe, 1905. TL: Sierra de Alfacar, Spain.
 
 
1a. Colias alfacariensis, distribution map.  Historical data ;  Additional data from the 2018 update ;  New observations since the 2018 update.
1b. Colias alfacariensis ♂ underside. Valikardhë, Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1c. Habitat of Colias alfacariensis. Valikardhë, Albania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1d. Colias alfacariensis ♂ underside. Greece (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
Description
♂♂
Medium size butterfly. Fw: 21-27 mm.
Ups: bright yellow gc.
Upf: apical markings not extensive (variable), dark basal shade reduced to s1a not spreading basically into the cell.
Uph: often absent submarginal markings, if present marginal markings small.
Unh: discal spot brilliant orange.
♀♀
Similar or slightly larger size.
Ups: gc whitish (rare yellow specimens have been recorded)
Similar species
Colias hyale (not recorded from southern Balkans) is a very similar species and there is no reliable external character for identification.
Genitalia are not discriminating. COI-barcoding allows identification.
As from the third instar, there are differences in the morphology of the caterpillars.
Life cycle
Adults: at least two full generations and depending on altitude a full or partial third generation, from April to October.
Egg: 4-7 days.
Caterpillar: overwintering as L3 larva on the upper side of the leaf of the foodplant, near to the ground.
Pupa: 8-15 days.
Habitat
Colias alfacariensis inhabits dry, rocky grasslands with scattered bushes at moderate levels up to 1700 m a.s.l..
Spatial requirement modest, population density can be high.
Foodplants
Caterpillars feed on mostly on Hippocrepis comosa, sometimes on Securigera varia, more rarely on Coronilla sp., also mentioned is Astragalus monspessulanus.
Butterflies feed on a large variety of flowers, in spring often on H. comosa.
Distribution
Albania: widespread in the mountains.
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO - SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP - BAL - NWE - UK - SCA - EEU
Asia Minor, Transcaucasia, Caucasus and further east.
Conservation status
Colias alfacariensis is not endangered.
Albanian Red List: LC.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: LC.
Useful links
Bink 2015
Pyrgus.de
Lepiforum
Euroleps
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orange-yellow gc.
strong black marginal border.
yellow veins in black marginal band.
dusky orange-yellow gc.
yellow gc.