Pieris ergane (Geyer, 1828)

Host plants:
Brassicaceae species such Aethionema species. Aethionema saxatile is the main host plant.

Habitat:
Pieris ergane inhabits warm steppe slopes, rocky areas and sparse scrubland.

Life cycle:
Pieris ergane flies in 2-3 generations from April to September. I met numerous fresh butterflies in late July 2010 in Northern Greece in the Askio Mountains. I observed eggs and many larvae in stony or rocky embankments in the Abruzzo (L'Aquila, Central Italy) in mid-May 2013.The pupa overwinters and is probably often attached to stones.

Remarks:
Pieris ergane occurs in Europe only very locally in northern and eastern Spain, Southern France, Central Italy, and much more widespread in the Balkan Peninsula. Moreover, Pieris ergane is observed from Asia Minor to Iran.