Euchloe simplonia

Mountain Dappled White (Euchloe simplonia)

2022 photographs highlighted in blue. Click on any photograph to go to an enlarged picture, or simply scroll down the page.


36217_pair_Hautes-Alpes_15Jul14	41867_male_Savoie_23Jul16	36209_pair_Hautes-Alpes_15Jul14	36045_female_Hautes-Alpes_14Jul14

22264_female_Hautes-Alpes_14Jul10	30538_female_Hautes-Alpes_5Jul12	48763_female_Haute-Savoie_24Jul21	41333_male_Hautes-Alpes_14Jul16

30345_female_Alpes-Maritimes_3Jul12	22371_female_Hautes-Alpes_15Jul10	36076_female_Hautes-Alpes_14Jul14

A butterfly of high altitudes, the normal minimum being 1500m (exceptionally as low as 1000m according to Lafranchis) but usually some way higher than 1500m. This makes identification a lot simpler as the other two Euchloe species that occur in France, the (Western) Dappled White (E. crameri) and the Portuguese Dappled White (E. tagis) are nearly always found below this level.

The simplonia upf discoidal spot reaches the costa and is fused along it, and the upf apical marks are more diffuse, especially the female. There are also some subtleties of the markings on the unh. It is univoltine (single-brooded) and for a mountain butterfly it has a relatively early flight period in the Alpes of June to July, according to altitude.

ref	sex	observations	alt. m
36217	M	a couple engaged in courtship, the same pair as in 36209, but in 36217 the male is on the ground as indicated by the narrower apical markings and discoidal spot. They were constantly fluttering, so any photograph was essentially a quick snap.	2020
41867	M	*a male, snapped while nectaring. Species of the Euchloe* genus are often very difficult to photograph as they have a tendency to fly non-stop.**	2070
36209	F	the same pair as in 36217 except that it is the female that is on the ground and relatively motionless as the male flutters above.	2020
36045	F	a female. 36076 is the underside.	2040
22264	F	a female, quite worn at the end of the flight period but clearly showing the large discoidal spot and the very diffuse apical mark.	2020
30538	F	*a female, the yellowish tinge to the uph being apparent. It is on the larval hostplant, Biscutella laevigata (Buckler Mustard).*	2020
48763	F	a female, that alternated between nectaring and settling on the ground for quite long spells in rather overcast conditions.	1760
41333	M	a male underside, roosting in an overcast spell.	1960
22371	F	a female underside, very yellow-green in colour.	2040
30345	F	a female, I believe.	1700
36076	F	a female, known because 36045 is the upperside.	2040