Colias erate poliographus flies from May to September in two generations.
   Central Asian butterflies are generally larger than European ones.
   The males have yellow fore wings with a broad unspotted blackish band. The inner border is angled inward at the upper median vein.
  The bands are sparsely speckled in yellow on the anterior veins. The dorsal spot is large and black, while the hind wing has a broad black crenulated band and a large orange yellow spot. 
   Ventral sides are yellow. The fore wing has a black spot and a distinct row of spots.
   Hind wings have a moderately sized dull pearly white red bordered spot.
   Females are yellow to white. The band on the fore wing is broader than the males, and with not very prominent upper and lower yellow spots. The large spot is distinct.
   The hind wing is darker with a broad marginal band traversed inwardly by large poorly defined yellow spots. The large spots are brighter red.
   Like most Colias species, Colias erate has yellow ground coloration.