Northern Clouded Yellow vs Sallow

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Northern Clouded Yellow Sallow
Scientific Name Colias hecla Xanthia icteritia
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Pieridae Noctuidae
Size 38-50 mm wingspan 30-36 mm wingspan
Habitat Tundra & Arctic Hedgerows
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions Arctic Canada, Greenland, Iceland, northern Scandinavia, Siberia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Northern Clouded Yellow

A bright orange-yellow butterfly with broad dark borders on the upperwings. The underside is greenish-yellow with a prominent silver discal spot. It is a strong, fast flier over tundra terrain.

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Did You Know?

This butterfly was first described from specimens collected in Greenland by early polar explorers.

Sallow

A pretty golden-yellow moth found in autumn, associated with sallow trees. Adults can be attracted to sugar or wine rope. Larvae feed on sallow catkins before descending to feed on low plants.

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Did You Know?

Larvae begin life eating sallow catkins high in trees, then descend to complete development on ground-level plants.