''Euchloe crameri'', the western dappled white, is a

butterfly Butterflies are insects in the macrolepidopteran clade Rhopalocera from the Order (biology), order Lepidoptera, which also includes moths. Adult butterflies have large, often brightly coloured wings, and conspicuous, fluttering flight. The ...

in the

family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...

Pieridae.

Description

Fore and hind wings pearly white on the upperside, with a black apex , mottled white. Underside of the forewings very similar, although the apex spot is greenish; in the hind wings, the greenish colour predominates, with white spots. The female is larger, with a more greenish colour, a consequence of the superposition of black and yellow scales. Very similar to ''

Euchloe ausonia ''Euchloe ausonia'', the eastern dappled white, is a southern European and Palearctic butterfly found mostly to the south and east of its almost indistinguishable relative the western dappled white. Description The wingspan is 36–48 mm ...

''.

Distribution and habitat

Widely distributed and mainly western, from Northwest Africa, Iberian Peninsula, S and SE of France, N of Italy, Ligurian Alps to Bologna. Its distribution overlaps with that of '' E. simplonia'' in E Pyrenees and SE of France . In Spain and Portugal it occurs abundantly in the Iberian Peninsula, especially in the Mediterranean area. It is a very adaptable and nomadic species, so it is found in all types of habitats from 0 -2400m. In Sierra Nevada (Spain) they have been observed even above 2500 m altitude, although in these populations there is only one annual reproduction, and their density is low. The specimens of this mountainous area were described by

Heinrich Ribbe August Theodor Heinrich Ribbe (June, 13, 1832 Berlin - January, 19, 1898) was a German entomologist. Heinrich Ribbe was an List of natural history dealers, insect dealer in Dresden and Berlin. In 1876 he collected trade insects in the Crimea an ...

, in 1905, as a differentiated subspecies, under the name of ''Euchloe alhambra'' , although it has been rejected that there are differences that justify such a presumption. Likes open, warm and dry areas, and in rural lands, preferably cultivated.

Flight period

Bivoltine , reproduces twice a year, with the first brood in February, and the second between April and May. Flies until August.

Biology

Oviposition is on the floral buds of various plants (''

Sinapis arvensis ''Sinapis arvensis'', the charlock mustard, field mustard, wild mustard, or charlock, is an annual or winter annual plant of the genus '' Sinapis'' in the family Brassicaceae. It is found in the fields of North Africa, Asia and Europe. ''Pieris ...

'' , '' Moricandia foleyi '', ''

Sinapis alba White mustard (''Sinapis alba'') is an annual plant of the family Brassicaceae. It is sometimes also referred to as ''Brassica alba'' or ''B. hirta''. Grown for its seeds, used to make the condiment mustard, as fodder crop, or as a green manure ...

'', '' Biscutella spathulata'', '' Erucastrum naturiifolium''), individually, and the caterpillar develops quickly on the leaves, soon attaining the chrysalis phase. Not all chrysalis develop into adult individuals in the first year, as some of them hibernate, remaining in that state, sometimes, up to several years; Therefore, the second generation is always partial.

Subspecies

''Euchloe crameri mauretanica'' ( Röber 1907)

References

*Olivares, Francisco Javier; Barea-Azcón, José Miguel y otros (2011) ''Las mariposas diurnas de Sierra Nevada'' evillaConsejería de Medio Ambiente, Junta de Andalucía, Granada, , pp. 190-191. *Tolman, T., Lewington, R., 2008 ''Collins Butterfly Guide Butterflies of Britain and Europe'' Harper Collins Euchloe Butterflies of Europe Articles containing video clips Butterflies described in 1869 Taxa named by Arthur Gardiner Butler {{Pieridae-stub