Thousands of Clouded Yellows - Haradh

Whilst in Haradh recently Phil Roberts and I saw huge numbers of Clouded Yellows in a single pivot irrigation field. The numbers probably exceeded one thousand individuals and it was an amazing sight. The Clouded Yellow is occasionally common in all areas of Saudi Arabia, originating from North Africa and southern Europe. The upperside is golden to orange yellow with a broad black margin on all four wings and a black spot near the centre forewing. The underside lacks the black borders and is lighter, with a more greenish tint, particularly on the forewings. In the forewing underside is the same dark spot as on the upperside, but often with a light centre; the hindwing underside has a white centre spot, often with a smaller white or dark dot immediately above it. Sometimes, a row of black dots occurs on the underwings' outer margins, corresponding to where the black border ends on the upperside, Females differ from the males in having yellow spots along the black borders on the upperside. In flight, it is easily identifiable by the intense yellow colouring, and like all Colias species, they hardly ever open their wings at rest, although the one Phil photographed did open its wings very briefly allow Phil to take the photograph below that he has kindly allowed me to use on my website.

Clouded Yellow

The Clouded Yellow is occasionally common in all areas of Saudi Arabia, originating from North Africa and southern Europe. The upperside is golden to orange yellow with a broad black margin on all four wings and a black spot near the centre forewing. The underside lacks the black borders and is lighter, with a more greenish tint, particularly on the forewings. In the forewing underside is the same dark spot as on the upperside, but often with a light centre; the hindwing underside has a white centre spot, often with a smaller white or dark dot immediately above it. Sometimes, a row of black dots occurs on the underwings' outer margins, corresponding to where the black border ends on the upperside, Females differ from the males in having yellow spots along the black borders on the upperside. In flight, it is easily identifiable by the intense yellow colouring, and like all Colias species, they never open their wings at rest.

Clouded Yellow - Ash Shargiyah Development Company Farm (Fadhili)

The Clouded Yellow Colias croceus is a resident but also a migrant to the oasis and farms of Eastern Saudi Arabia where it feeds on alfalfa. It is sometimes very common but it is uncertain if this is due to good breeding season or an influx of migrants as they are strong flyers The species regularly undertakes long-distance directional movements in large numbers and this is an essential strategy for the species survival. The under-wings are a greenish-yellow colour with two silver-white spots and this is normally all that can be seen on a resting butterfly as they always rest with their wings closed. The upper-wings are deep orange-yellow with broad dark wing margins. The genus has its origins in temperate regions and is a genus of considerable antiquity. Its main centre of development is in the high mountains of Asia and North America, it extends its range to the tip of southern Africa and to Patagonia in South America.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) - Dhahran Hills

I found this Clouded Yellow Colias crocus in the pivot Irrigation fields at Dhahran on 2 February which was the first one I have seen at the location. At Qaryat Al Ulya Pivot Irrigation fields are the best site for finding the butterflies and I have not seen them in many places away from here. In the Eastern Province it is abundant in all major cultivated oases such as Al Hassa, Qatif and Taraut Island. Pivot irrigation fields are also good areas to find the species such as those where I saw them. Small isolated populations also exist around Manifa, north of Jubail, on beds of annual winter legumes growing in the hollows between coastal sand dunes with the populations supplemented by migrants. They are 45-54 mm in size and most have an orange-yellow ground with broad black borders to wings. They occurs mainly from December to early May but at Manifa during February and March. It has a characteristic to and fro flight over low vegetation.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) - Qaryat Al Ulya Pivot Fields

At Qaryat Al Ulya Pivot Irrigation fields there were a large number of Clouded Yellow butterflies flying a rung the Alfafa crops. The range of the Clouded Yellow Colias croceus is across Southern and Central Europe to North Africa, Iran and the Arabian Peninsula. In Saudi Arabia it is common at Tuwayq Hills and is abundant in all major cultivated eastern oases such as Al Hassa, Quatif, Taraut Island and Safway, favouring Medicago sativa fields. Pivot irrigation fields are also good areas to find the species. Small isolated populations also exist around Manifa, north of Jubail, on beds of annual winter legumes growing in the hollows between coastal sand dunes with the populations supplemented by migrants. They are 45-54 mm in size and most have an orange-yellow ground with broad black borders to wings. They occurs mainly from December to early May but at Manifa during February and March. It has a characteristic to and fro flight over low vegetation where it frequently settles on sweet basil Ocimum basilicum flowers in oases.

Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) - Sabkhat Al Fasl

I have been seeing quite a few Clouded Yellow butterflies recently, mainly at Sabkhat Al Fasl. The Clouded Yellow (Colias croceus) has migrated to the oasis of Eastern Saudi Arabia where it feeds on alfalfa. It is sometimes very common but it is uncertain if it is resident in the area as it is a strong migrant. The species regularly undertakes long-distance directional movements in large numbers and this is an essential strategy for the species survival. The under-wings are a greenish-yellow colour with two silver-white spots and this is normally all that can be seen on a resting butterfly as they always rest with their wings closed. The upper-wings are deep orange-yellow with broad dark wing margins.
The genus has its origins in temperate regions and is a genus of considerable antiquity. Its main centre of development is in the high mountains of Asia and North America, it extends its range to the tip of southern Africa and to Patagonia in South America.