Colias marcopolo is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in the Pamir mountains the Hindu Kush and Afghanistan.

Description

Colias marcopolo is one of the smaller species. Upperside of male pale sulphur-yellow, with a not very broad greyish black distal marginal band and a nonconspicuous large yellow spot on the hindwing, but without black middle spot on the forewing. Underside of forewing dirty yellow, with greyish green distal margin; hindwing darker greyish green, with whitish middle spot. The female is yolk-colour above and below, the distal marginal band being broader and havmg the inner edge diffuse, the forewing bearing yellow submarginal spots. The form with brighter yellow upperside, narrower dark distal margins and a black middle spot on the forewing above and below, is named ab.? nicolopolo.

Biology

The larva feeds on species of Astragalus.


Montane habitat in Afghanistan
Biotope

A montane species found between 3000 and 5000 metres a.s.l.

Subspecies

C. m. marcopolo Pamirs, Hindukush
C. m. afganipolo Schulte, 1977 Afghanistan
C. m. kushana Wyatt & Omoto, 1966 Afghanistan
Etymology

Named for Marco Polo.


source - Wikipedia