Mountain clouded yellow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mountain clouded yellow |
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The mountain clouded yellow (scientific name: Colias phicomone) is a beautiful butterfly that belongs to the Pieridae family. You can find this butterfly flying high up in the mountains of Europe, like the Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees, the Carpathian Mountains, and the Alps. It loves to fly at very high places, from about 900 meters (around 3,000 feet) up to 2,800 meters (over 9,000 feet) above sea level!
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What Does the Mountain Clouded Yellow Look Like?
This butterfly has a wingspan of about 40 to 50 millimeters (about 1.5 to 2 inches). That's roughly the length of your thumb!
Male Butterflies
Male mountain clouded yellows have yellow wings on top. They also have many dark scales, which makes them look a bit dark greenish overall. Along the dark edges of their wings, you might see some yellow spots. Sometimes these spots are hard to see or even missing.
There's a black spot in the middle of their front wings. On their back wings, you'll find a yellowish-reddish spot in the center. The edges of their front wings and the entire edge of their back wings are a pretty rose-red color. Even their head and antennae are rose-red!
The underside of their front wings is white, but the tips might be yellow. The underside of their back wings is yellow and has dark scales on the inner part. The central spot on the underside of the back wing often looks like two spots. It's shiny, like a mother-of-pearl, with a red border.
Female Butterflies
Female mountain clouded yellows are a bit different. Their upper wings are an off-white color. They have fewer dark markings than the males, but these markings are usually clearer. Their undersides are also paler.
When Do They Fly?
These butterflies fly during the warmer months. Depending on where they live, you can see them flying from June to August.
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A male Colias phicomone from above.
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A male Colias phicomone from below.
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A female Colias phicomone from above.
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A female Colias phicomone from below.
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Life Cycle and Diet
The young mountain clouded yellow butterflies are called larvae, or caterpillars. These caterpillars love to eat plants from the Fabaceae family. This family includes plants like peas, beans, and clover.
Different Types of Mountain Clouded Yellows
Sometimes, animals of the same species can have slight differences depending on where they live. These are called subspecies. Here are some of the mountain clouded yellow subspecies:
- Colias phicomone phicomone: Found in the Alps, northern Carpathian Mountains, and northern Italy.
- Colias phicomone juliana: Found in Cantabria, Spain.
- Colias phicomone oberthueri: Found in the Pyrenees mountains.
- Colias phicomone phila: Found in Kashmir.
Similar Butterflies
The mountain clouded yellow looks a bit like some other butterflies in the Colias group. These include:
- Colias hyale
- Colias alfacariensis
- Colias crocea
- Colias myrmidone
- Colias palaeno
- Colias chrysotheme
- Colias erate
Where Does the Name Come From?
The name phicomone comes from ancient Greek stories, also known as the Classical tradition. In Greek mythology, Phicomone was one of the Danaïdes, who were the fifty daughters of King Danaus.
