Butterflies of Bulgaria - Colias caucasica

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Colias caucasica Staudinger, 1871

Systematics: Balkan populations were until recently thought to represent a separate species, Colias balcanica Rebel, 1901.

Range: C Balkan Peninsula, NE Turkey, Transcaucasia, S slopes of Caucasus.

Distribution in Bulgaria: Rila, Osogovo, single old records also from W Rhodopi (near Velingrad), N Pirin and Vitosha. From 1100 to 2200 m a.s.l.

Habitat: Open mountain slopes with the larval host-plant.

Bionomics: One generation from June till August. Larval host-plant: Chamaecytisus absinthioides (Fabaceae) (Abadjiev 1994).

Conservation status: Urgently needs research. In recent decades this species has apparently declined strongly compared to the first half of the 20th Century. IUCN category: Vulnerable, possibly Endandered. One of the four Lepidoptera species protected by law in Bulgaria. Its inclusion in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria is herewith recommended.

Previous: Colias myrmidone ● Next: ? Colias chrysotheme ● Back to species list ● Main menu

	Systematics: Balkan populations were until recently thought to represent a separate species, Colias balcanica Rebel, 1901. Range: C Balkan Peninsula, NE Turkey, Transcaucasia, S slopes of Caucasus. Distribution in Bulgaria: Rila, Osogovo, single old records also from W Rhodopi (near Velingrad), N Pirin and Vitosha. From 1100 to 2200 m a.s.l. Habitat: Open mountain slopes with the larval host-plant. Bionomics: One generation from June till August. Larval host-plant: Chamaecytisus absinthioides (Fabaceae) (Abadjiev 1994). Conservation status: Urgently needs research. In recent decades this species has apparently declined strongly compared to the first half of the 20th Century. IUCN category: Vulnerable, possibly Endandered. One of the four Lepidoptera species protected by law in Bulgaria. Its inclusion in the Red Data Book of Bulgaria is herewith recommended.

Colias caucasica Staudinger, 1871