Colias erate, commonly known as the eastern pale clouded yellow, is a species of butterfly in the family Pieridae.

The butterflies are extremely variable in their colouring and therefore very difficult to distinguish from similar species of the same genus.

Approximately in the middle of the forewing, slightly offset from the front edge, there is a small black spot.

The upper sides of the hind wings are also colored lemon yellow, but lightly dusted with dark.

The undersides of both pairs of wings are more strongly coloured yellow and slightly dusted with dark olive green.

The dark row of submarginal spots on the forewings continues on the outer edge of the hindwings, but is only faintly discernible.