Powdered Brimstone
CR

Powdered Brimstone

Gonepteryx farinosa

UnknownLCEULCEU

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

Overview

A detailed profile for this species is sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as assessments become available.

The Powdered Brimstone faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its European range. Climate change is altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, particularly buckthorn species, disrupting critical breeding cycles and larval development.

Threat summary

Habitat

Inhabits woodland edges, scrubland, and open areas with abundant buckthorn (Rhamnus) species, particularly in mountainous and hilly regions of southern and central Europe. Requires a mosaic of flowering plants for adult nectar sources and specific host plants for larval development.

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

Threatened in Algeria

Calidris ferrugineaVU

Calidris ferruginea

Declining
CR

Sahara Killifish

Apricaphanius saourensis

Declining
Blind SnailVU

Blind Snail

Cecilioides acicula

Unknown
EN

Chafarinas' Skink

Chalcides parallelus

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Powdered Brimstone classified as Critically Endangered?
Powdered Brimstone 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 Powdered Brimstone faces severe population declines due to habitat loss from agricultural expansion and urban development across its European range. Climate change is altering the distribution and phenology of its host plants, particularly buckthorn species, disrupting critical breeding cycles and larval development.
Where does Powdered Brimstone live?
Powdered Brimstone occurs in Algeria, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, and France (plus 26 other countries). Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Powdered Brimstone?
The main threats to Powdered Brimstone 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.

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.