Eastern Dappled White
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.
47
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Euchloe_ausonia
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Pieridae
Genus
Euchloe
Eastern Dappled White belongs to the family Pieridae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
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.
The Eastern Dappled White faces significant threats from habitat loss and fragmentation as agricultural intensification and urban development reduce available calcareous grasslands and rocky slopes. Climate change poses additional risks by altering the distribution and phenology of its cruciferous host plants, while the species' specialized habitat requirements make it particularly vulnerable to environmental changes.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Inhabits dry calcareous grasslands, rocky slopes, scrublands, and limestone hillsides typically between 200-2000m elevation. The species requires areas with abundant cruciferous host plants, particularly wild candytuft and other Iberis species, along with nectar sources for adults.
Threats
Habitat loss from agricultural intensification
Urban development and infrastructure expansion
Climate change impacts on host plant availability
Habitat fragmentation reducing population connectivity
Overgrazing and changes in land management practices
Found in 47 Countries
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). Eastern Dappled White (Euchloe ausonia). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/eastern-dappled-white