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Pieris balcana / Balkan Green-veined White
Bardhoshja e Ballkanit
Pieridae - Pierinae
Pieris balcana Lorković, 1969. TL: Treska Valley.
 
1a. Pieris balcana, distribution map.  Historical data ;  Additional data from the 2018 update ;  New observations since the 2018 update.
1b. Pieris balcana ♂ underside. Romania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
1c. Pieris balcana ♀ underside. Romania (© Sylvain Cuvelier)
Description
♂♂
Medium size butterfly. Fw: 20-24 mm.
Upf: black apical patch extending along outer margin as triangles or spots on vein-ends.
Unh: dark suffusion along veins diffuse, big differences in vernal and aestival generations. See (url)
♀♀
Upf: black apical patch extending along outer margin as triangles or spots on vein-ends.
Unh: dark suffusion along veins diffuse, big differences in vernal and aestival generations. See (url)
Similar species
The status of this taxon remains unclear.
Male genitalia bear no clear differentiating character, valve slightly rugged in lateral view.
COI barcoding is unclear.
Breeding experiments did show potential reproductive isolation and for this reason the taxon is retained for the time being.
The external characters to separate both species of Green-veined Whites are difficult to use and it is often confusing as there are many intermediate specimens.
Pieris napi
Unh: ♂♂ and ♀♀ dark suffusion along veins sharply defined.
There are marked differences in vernal (strongly marked) and aestival generations (often poorly marked), see (url)
2. Fig. 7. from the original description in: Lorković Z. 1969. Karyologischer Beitrag zur Frage der Fortpflanzungsverhältnisse südeuropäischer Taxone von Pieris napi (L.) (Lep., Pieridae). — Biolośki Glasnik 21: 95-136.
Life cycle
Adults: probably several generations from early spring to October.
Egg: probably short stage.
Caterpillar: probably short stage.
Pupa: probably overwintering.
Habitat
Unclear due to confusion with Pieris napi.
Spatial requirement probably modest, population density probably moderate.
Foodplants
Caterpillars probably feed on Brassicaceae.
Butterflies probably feed on a large variety of flowers.
Distribution
Albania: local in the mountains.
Balkan: AL - BG - BIH - GR - HR - NMK - MNE - RKS - RO - SLO - SRB
Europe: IB - IT - ALP - BAL - NWE - UK - SCA - EEU
Not present in Asia.
Conservation status
Pieris balcana is not endangered, a Balkan endemic.
Albanian Red List: LC.
IUCN Red List, category at the Mediterranean level: not included.
Useful links
Euroleps
Lepiforum
euroButterflies
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