Mountain Small White
Common NameMountain Small White
Scientific NamePieris ergane
FamilyPieridae
SubfamilyPierinae
Wingspan (mm)40
Wing Patternsolid
Primary Colorswhite, pale yellow, pale green
HabitatRocky slopes, dry grasslands, scrubland, mountainous regions
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe (Balkans, Greece, Turkey), parts of the Middle East, Caucasus
Host PlantsAethionema saxatile, Alyssum
Flight PeriodApril to October
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plants, larvae feed on the leaves, and pupation occurs on or near the host plant, with multiple generations per year.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its plain white upperside and the pale greenish-yellow wash on the underside of the hindwings and forewing apex, lacking the strong dark markings of many other Pieris species.
Description
A small to medium-sized white butterfly with a distinctive pale greenish-yellow underside on the hindwings and forewing apex, while the upperside is typically plain white.
