Colias phicomone

Taxonomy

Assessment Information

Geographic Range

Population

Habitat and Ecology

Threats

Conservation Actions

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Taxonomy [top]

Kingdom	Phylum	Class	Order	Family
ANIMALIA	ARTHROPODA	INSECTA	LEPIDOPTERA	PIERIDAE

Scientific Name:

Colias phicomone

Species Authority:

(Esper, 1780)

Common Name/s:

English

–

Mountain Clouded Yellow

Assessment Information [top]

Red List Category & Criteria:	Near Threatened ver 3.1
Year Published:	2010
Assessor/s:	van Swaay, C., Wynhoff, I., Verovnik, R., Wiemers, M., López Munguira, M., Maes, D., Sasic, M., Verstrael, T., Warren, M. & Settele, J.
Reviewer/s:	Lewis, O. (Butterfly RLA) & Cuttelod, A. (IUCN Red List Unit)
Contributor/s:
Justification: Although the estimated decline of this species is less than 30%, a decline of more than 30% would be within the uncertainty limits. It is therefore classified as Near Threatened in the world, Europe and the EU-27.

Geographic Range [top]

Range Description:	The Mountain Clouded Yellow occurs in Europe in mountainous areas: Cantabrian Mountains, the Pyrenees and Alps. It occurs between 900-2,500 m elevation in the Alps and 1,500-2,800 m in Spain. This is a European endemic species.
Countries:	Native: Andorra; Austria; France; Germany; Italy; Liechtenstein; Spain; Switzerland; Ukraine
Range Map:	Click here to open the map viewer and explore range.

Population [top]

Population:	This species is widespread in the mountainous areas of Europe. Strong declines in distribution or population size of more than 30% have been reported from Ukraine. Declines in distribution or population size of 6-30% have been reported from Austria and France (data provided by the national partners of Butterfly Conservation Europe).
Population Trend:	Decreasing

Habitat and Ecology [top]

Habitat and Ecology:	The Mountain Clouded Yellow has its breeding ground in flower-rich alpine meadows. Although they are quick, strong flyers, they do not migrate and do not leave their habitat as C. hyale or C. croceus do. Various leguminous plants are used as larval foodplants, including Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa), White Clover (Trifolium repens), Common Birdsfoot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and vetches (Vicia spp.). This butterfly species usually has one generation a year, but in some years there is a partial second generation. The caterpillars hibernate after their second moult. Habitats: alpine and subalpine grasslands (87%), humid grasslands and tall herb communities (12%).
Systems:	Terrestrial

Habitat and Ecology:

The Mountain Clouded Yellow has its breeding ground in flower-rich alpine meadows. Although they are quick, strong flyers, they do not migrate and do not leave their habitat as C. hyale or C. croceus do. Various leguminous plants are used as larval foodplants, including Horseshoe Vetch (Hippocrepis comosa), White Clover (Trifolium repens), Common Birdsfoot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and vetches (Vicia spp.). This butterfly species usually has one generation a year, but in some years there is a partial second generation. The caterpillars hibernate after their second moult. Habitats: alpine and subalpine grasslands (87%), humid grasslands and tall herb communities (12%).

Systems:

Terrestrial

Threats [top]

Major Threat(s):	This species shows a decline in part of its European range, but direct threats are unknown. As it is a species from alpine meadows, it could become threatened by changes in agricultural practices or climate change.

Major Threat(s):

This species shows a decline in part of its European range, but direct threats are unknown. As it is a species from alpine meadows, it could become threatened by changes in agricultural practices or climate change.

Conservation Actions [top]

Conservation Actions:	This species occurs in a number of protected areas across its range. In countries where the species is in decline important habitats should be protected and managed. The effects of conservation actions should be monitored by a Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.

Conservation Actions:

This species occurs in a number of protected areas across its range. In countries where the species is in decline important habitats should be protected and managed. The effects of conservation actions should be monitored by a Butterfly Monitoring Scheme.

Citation:	van Swaay, C., Wynhoff, I., Verovnik, R., Wiemers, M., López Munguira, M., Maes, D., Sasic, M., Verstrael, T., Warren, M. & Settele, J. 2010. Colias phicomone. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 19 May 2013.
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