(Boisduval, 1828)
Mountain Dappled White
Description:
The Mountain Dappled White is locally common in flower-rich alpine and sub-alpine grasslands and on rocky slopes. The males fly quickly, whereas the females are rarely seen in flight.
They lay their eggs singly on the flowerheads of various crucifers, such as Barbarea spp., buckler mustards (Biscutella spp.), candytufts (Iberis spp.), and rockets (Sisymbrium spp.).
The caterpillars are solitary and usually eat the ovaries of the plants. However, on meeting smaller caterpillars of their own sort, they also eat them. They pupate on rocks or in low-growing vegetation, and pass the winter in this stage, sometimes remaining a chrysalis for more than one winter.
Habitat:
Alpine grasslands
Dry siliceous grasslands
Dry calcareous grasslands
Mesophile grasslands
Phrygana vegetation
Sclerophyllous scrub
Humid grasslands
Inland sand-dunes
Similar species:
Euchloe ausonia
Euchloe tagis
Euchloe insularis
Euchloe crameri