Dappled White
Euchloe simplonia
Photo: iNaturalist: (c) steve-jelf, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Overview
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.
Habitat
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.
Other threatened species in Pieridae
Threatened in Andorra
Frequently asked questions
Why is Dappled White classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Dappled White live?
What are the main threats to Dappled White?
Get weekly conservation intelligence
One short digest a week of the most striking species and country data we ship, plus breaking conservation news paired with our database where it matters.
Free, no spam. One-click unsubscribe in every email.