Madeiran Large White
CR

Madeiran Large White

Pieris wollastoni

UnknownCREUCREU

Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madeiran_large_white

Overview

The Madeiran large white was a subspecies of the large white butterfly, endemic to Madeira. It was described by the English entomologist, Arthur Gardiner Butler in 1886.

The Madeiran Large White is critically endangered due to severe habitat loss and degradation on the island of Madeira, where its native laurel forest ecosystem has been extensively cleared for agriculture and development. The species is also threatened by invasive plant species that have altered the composition of remaining forest patches, reducing the availability of its host plants.

Threat summary

Habitat

Endemic to Madeira and found in the northern valleys of the laurel forest.

Other threatened species in Pieridae

EN

Catasticta revancha

Unknown
Southern Small WhiteVU

Southern Small White

Pieris mannii

Unknown
Krueper's Small WhiteVU

Krueper's Small White

Pieris krueperi

Unknown
Gruner's Orange-tipVU

Gruner's Orange-tip

Anthocharis gruneri

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Madeiran Large White classified as Critically Endangered?
Madeiran Large White is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. The Madeiran Large White is critically endangered due to severe habitat loss and degradation on the island of Madeira, where its native laurel forest ecosystem has been extensively cleared for agriculture and development. The species is also threatened by invasive plant species that have altered the composition of remaining forest patches, reducing the availability of its host plants.
Where does Madeiran Large White live?
Madeiran Large White occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Madeiran Large White?
The main threats to Madeiran Large White are ai-1, ai-2, ai-3, and ai-4. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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