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This is a real desert specialist. It flies in the
extreme climates of the northern Sahara and well south into the oases.
We found them sparingly in a band east and west of Gafsa in early April.
The sun was already very strong and hot at this time of the year.
It has a close relative with which it flies - the Green Striped
White, Euchloe belemia. That species has much less regular white
underside stripes that form rather indistinct bands. This species has
bold stripes and is unmistakable when viewed for real.
In some years it is said to be very scarce. The theory for this is
desiccation or non-appearance of the foodplant in very dry springs.
Luckily (?) in 1999 we arrived in the desert to puddles at the roadside.
There was great lush growth in many places although there remained vast
tracts of desolate land. |
