English name:
Danube Clouded Yellow
Full scientific name:
Colias myrmidone (Esper, 1781)
Croatian name:
Narančasti poštar
Flight Period and Life Cycle
2 broods per year. Overwinters as caterpillar.
Distribution in Croatia
It seems that this species is extinct in Croatia. Check the included map.
External Morphology Characteristics
The underside of the wings has a yellow color, with more orange in the basal, discal, and postdiscal zones of the forewing. On the upper side, the wings are a saturated orange color with a wide dark border along the marginal and submarginal zones. This butterfly is very similar to its sibling species, Colias caucasica. However, it is not possible to reliably differentiate between the two species based on the imago’s appearance. Despite their similarities, the two species have different distributions and habitats.
Behavior
When lands, it keeps wings closed.
Caterpillar Host Plants
Family Fabaceae, genus Cytisus.
Habitat
Forest clearings that occur after freshly cut forests. Elevations: 0-700m.