Subspecies include:[1] Colias aias is treated as a full species by some authors.

[6] Colias palaeno is a Holarctic species, widespread through Asia, Europe and North America.

[11] Though the species is normally restricted to these habitats, occasionally it is found far from suitable breeding grounds.

Underside of forewing pale yellow with white-centred dark middle spot, the costal and distal edges being red; hindwing yellow, strongly dusted with fuscous, the large middle spot being mother-of-pearl colour, and the fringes red.

The larva is sea-green, velvety, bearing minute black dots; a lateral stripe bright yellow edged with black beneath, below the same the white black-edged spiracles; underside and abdominal legs dull green, thoracic legs yellowish, head green.