Mountain Small White
Pieris ergane
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieris_ergane
Overview
A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.
The Mountain Small White faces severe pressure from climate change as warming temperatures force its preferred cool mountain habitats to shift upward in elevation, reducing available habitat area. Agricultural intensification and overgrazing in mountain valleys have degraded the cruciferous host plants essential for larval development. Tourism development and ski resort expansion in alpine regions further fragment its already limited high-altitude habitat.
Habitat
This butterfly inhabits mountain meadows, alpine grasslands, and rocky slopes at elevations typically between 1,000-2,500 meters across mountainous regions of Europe and Asia. It requires areas with abundant cruciferous plants, particularly wild mustards and cresses, which serve as host plants for its larvae.
Other threatened species in Pieridae
Threatened in Afghanistan
Frequently asked questions
Why is Mountain Small White classified as Vulnerable?
Where does Mountain Small White live?
What are the main threats to Mountain Small White?
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