Colias hyale (Linnaeus, 1758) Pale Clouded Yellow, Golden Acht, Soufre, Желтушка луговая, Մարգագետնային դեղնաթիթեռ
Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: The species is distributed in most of Europe and major part of Asia. It appears that Armenia is inhabited by nominate subspecies, although the intraspecific taxonomy of the Pale Clouded Yellow in Armenia has not been studied. Taking into account close similarity of the species to Berger's Clouded Yellow, the distribution of Pale Clouded Yellow in Armenia was confirmed through the larvae. At current it is possible to conclude that the species inhabits meadows from 2200 to 2800 m a.s.l. and most probably is associated with some species of Trifolium. Number of generations per year is also unclear - probably two, which are on wing from mid June till mid September.
Population dynamics: Preliminary it is possible to say that the species is uncommon within typical habitat, however the data is not sufficient for computation of population trend. Possibly the species could be affected by overgrazing and uncontrolled mowing, but there is no evidence.
Conservation measures: The species is not included in the Global and Armenian Red Lists, as well as not included in CITES and Bern Conventions, however is assessed for the European Red Book as Least Concern. At current the species deserves a national conservation status of Data Deficient, and requires additional studies of its distribution, abundance, population trend, biological peculiarities, and threats, especially because just parts of its population are covered by Lake Arpi National Park and Zangezur Biosphere Complex, as well as by appropriate Emerald Sites, and by Kajaran Prime Butterfly Area.