Colias chrysotheme, the lesser clouded yellow, is a small Palearctic butterfly belonging to the family Pieridae.

The male is pale yellow on the upper wing, and the edges are black or dark gray with a reddish fringe.

The wing upper side of the males is orange-yellow coloured and has a dark outer marginal band, which is narrower on the hindwing.

The females are recognizable by a greenish front edge of the forewing upper side and yellow spots in the submarginal .

The butterflies prefer to fly in the sunshine over steppe areas and feed on the nectar of various meadow flowers.