Euchloe grancanariensis
Gran Canaria Green Striped White
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
Field notes and information
In 2009 Suárez published results of mtDNA studies which concludes that the populations on Tenerife, Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura have diverged from each other and from the green striped white E. belemia from the African/ Spanish mainlands.
Identification & Similar species: There are no similar species on Gran Canaria.
Distribution & Flight: Only from the island of Gran Canaria. It flies from January or February to April. I only found a couple of examples in mid April. This is likely to be the end of one or two winter/ spring broods.
Habitat & Behaviour: Upper levels of the island in bushy grassy flowery areas. Its low abundance in the years around my visit in 2011 may be due to extensive fires on the island in the early 2000s.
Ref: 2009: Suárez, Betancor, Pestano "Intraspecific evolution of Canarian Euchloe (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) butterflies, based on mtDNA sequences", Moclecular Phylogenetics and Evolution.
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
Note the egg of this species accidentally captured in this photo.
Gran Canaria, Spain, March 2016
Site where we found a few E. grancanariensis but they very rarely stopped and I didn't get any photos of the butterfly.
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
Gran Canaria, Spain, April 2011
Despite appearances, no egg was laid here - they are usually laid on flower heads.