Boisduval, 1832
Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow
Description:
The Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow is found in Lapland in the mountains and in lowland areas. They occur in marshy habitats in the birch zone, marshes on mountain slopes, and on dry to wet alpine grasslands. The butterflies appear early in the year, as soon as the birches burst into leaf. Its food plants are Alpine Milk-vetch (Astragalus alpinus), Yellow Alpine Milk-vetch (A. frigidus), and possibly also Vaccinium species.
This species has one generation a year and mostly hibernates as a chrysalis, but sometimes as a caterpillar. Sometimes, it remains a chrysalis for a second winter.
Habitat:
Alpine grasslands
Dry calcareous grasslands
Heath and shrub
Mesophile grasslands
Humid grasslands
Similar species:
Colias phicomone