Krueper's Small White

Pieris krueperi Staudinger, 1860

Status

Description

A medium white butterfly, with black tips to the forewing upperside, and with yellowish hindwing underside, and large green basal patch. The male and female are similar with one large black spot on the forewing upperside. Both have two black spots  The butterfly could be confused with other members of the genius, however the underside hindwing markings, and the triangular black marks along the forewing upperside margin are distinctive. 

Habitat Requirements

Mostly seen in and around the rocky limestone pavements and small meadows of the mountainous areas in the north east of the island.

Larval Foodplants

Golden Alyssum Aurinia saxatilis.

Observations

Members of CBC have limited experience with this species and to date it has only been encountered in mid-summer. Our first record was made by Giannis Gasteratos on the 1st August 2015. However, it was not until five years later, on the 4th August 2020, that Giannis, Anne Sordinas and Dan Danahar managed to find this species again. Then the next sighting came nine days later when the three returned with a group of ten CBC members, including: Jason Fisher, Tony Gould & Rob Kesseler, on the 13th August 2020. Whilst the butterflies were most commonly observed flying over rocky terrain and small mountain pastures, we did not find the host plant and subsequently could not observe the butterfly in association with it.  

*The information provided in the tables below is based on verified sightings of the Krueper's Small White submitted via this website since 1st January 2021.

First and Last Sightings

Year First Last/latest # Days
2022 11/06/2022 09/08/2022 59 days
2021 29/05/2021 13/07/2021 45 days

Number of Observations

Year Number of observations
2023 0
2022 2
2021 27
Grand Total 29

Distribution Map

Distribution maps for this species are currently unavailable.

Flight Times for the Krueper's Small White (2023)

The chart below shows flight data by month for 2023 submitted online since 1st January 2023 to 8th June 2023.

Flight Times for the Krueper's Small White (All Data)

The chart below shows flight data by month based on all data submitted online since 1st January 2019 to 8th June 2023.

Taxonomy

  • Vernacular/Common Name: Krueper's Small White
  • Family: Pieridae (Swainson, 1820)
  • Sub-family: Pierinae (Swainson, 1820)
  • Tribe: Pierini (Duponchel, [1835])
  • Genus: Pieris (Schrank, 1801)
  • Species: krueperi Staudinger, 1860

References

For a list of references, please see our bibliography page.