Dappled White
Euchloe simplonia
Euchloe simplonia, the mountain dappled white, is a butterfly found in the mountainous regions of Western Europe. Its main foods are Sinapis, Isatis, Aethionema, Iberis and Biscutella species.
7
Countries
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) steve-jelf, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Pieridae
Genus
Euchloe
Dappled White belongs to the family Pieridae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Euchloe simplonia, the mountain dappled white, is a butterfly found in the mountainous regions of Western Europe. Its main foods are Sinapis, Isatis, Aethionema, Iberis and Biscutella species. Though data are lacking, it is believed that the species is restricted to a small area of the western Alps and is endangered in Europe. The species is closely related to Euchloe naina, and cross-breeding experiments suggest that E. nania may be a subspecies, though this is contested on morphological grounds.
The Dappled White butterfly faces significant threats from habitat loss and fragmentation as alpine and montane meadows are increasingly impacted by climate change, agricultural expansion, and tourism development. Rising temperatures are causing shifts in suitable habitat zones upward in elevation, while simultaneously affecting the availability of its host plants and altering the timing of critical life cycle events.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Alpine and subalpine meadows, mountain slopes, and rocky areas typically between 1000-3000m elevation across European mountain ranges including the Alps, Pyrenees, and other montane regions. The species requires areas with abundant cruciferous host plants, particularly in open, flower-rich grasslands and meadows.
Threats
Alpine habitat fragmentation
Climate change and habitat zone shifts
Agricultural encroachment in montane areas
Loss of host plant availability
Tourism and recreational development
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Dappled White (Euchloe simplonia). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/dappled-white