Pontia callidice (Hübner, 1800)


Pontia callidice: Female [S] Pontia callidice: Female-upper side Pontia callidice: Upper side [N] Pontia callidice: Lower side [S] Pontia callidice: Lower side [N] Pontia callidice: Ovum [N] Pontia callidice: Young larva [S] Pontia callidice: Larva [S] Pontia callidice: Larva [S] Pontia callidice: Larva (Engadine, Switzerland, 2006) [S] Pontia callidice: Pupa [N] Pontia callidice: Larval habitat: Hutchinsia alpina in stony area [N] Pontia callidice: Habitat in the Engadin on 2600 m above sea level [N]

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Brassicaceae of the high Alps such as Hutchinsia alpina.

Habitat:
Pontia callidice colonizes screes, rubble fields, stony grasslands and glacial moraines in the Alps from about 1800 to 3000m above sea level. It is highly local, but a bit more widespread in the central and parts of the Southern Alps.

Life cycle:
Pontia callidice usually flies in a single generation from June to August. I found eggs in late June and July in 2600-2900m above sea level (Engadine). The pupa overwinters. I observed pupae in mid-October at 2500m above sea level under stones (southeastern Switzerland, together with hibernating larvae of Grammia quenselii). Only two pupae out of 20 observed were still living (predation)! At early onset of winter caterpillars are said to be able to hibernate, too (according to literature). But this needs further confirmation.

Endangerment factors:
This species is locally affected by uncontrolled development of tourism. Nevertheless, it is at little risk because screes are usually changed little at such altitudes.

Remarks:
The total distribution covers the mountains of the northern hemisphere (Pyrenees and Alps in Europe, Turkey and Mongolia in Asia, North America).



Pontia chloridice | Pontia daplidice | Pontia edusa