Madeiran Large White
Encyclopedia
The Madeiran Large White (Pieris brassicae wollastoni) is a subspecies of the Large White
, endemic to Madeira
. It can reach a size from 55 to 65 millimetres. The wings are pure white with a wide black tip on the apexes of the forewings. Its natural habitat
is the laurisilva
laurel forest
. Considering that it was last collected in 1977 but not found despite a 15 year survey during the 1980s and 1990s it might be either extremely rare or possibly extinct. One reason for its decline might be a virus infection which brought out after the Small White (Pieris rapae) was introduced to Madeira in the 1950s. The Latin name commemorates Thomas Vernon Wollaston
, an entomologist who has discovered several insect taxa on Madeira.
Large White
The Large White , also called Cabbage Butterfly, Cabbage White, or in India the Large Cabbage White, White cabbage butterfly is a butterfly in the family Pieridae.-Distribution:...
, endemic to Madeira
Madeira
Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union...
. It can reach a size from 55 to 65 millimetres. The wings are pure white with a wide black tip on the apexes of the forewings. Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is the laurisilva
Laurisilva
Laurisilva or laurissilva is a subtropical forest, found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures. They are characterised by evergreen, glossy-leaved tree species that look alike with leaves of lauroide type...
laurel forest
Laurel forest
Laurel forest is a subtropical or mild temperate forest, found in areas with high humidity and relatively stable and mild temperatures. They are characterized by tree species with evergreen, glossy, enlongated leaves, known as laurophyll or lauroide...
. Considering that it was last collected in 1977 but not found despite a 15 year survey during the 1980s and 1990s it might be either extremely rare or possibly extinct. One reason for its decline might be a virus infection which brought out after the Small White (Pieris rapae) was introduced to Madeira in the 1950s. The Latin name commemorates Thomas Vernon Wollaston
Thomas Vernon Wollaston
Thomas Vernon Wollaston was a prominent English entomologist and malacologist, becoming especially known for his studies of Coleoptera inhabiting several North Atlantic archipelagoes. He was well-placed socially. His religious beliefs effectively prevented him from supporting Darwin's theories...
, an entomologist who has discovered several insect taxa on Madeira.
Further reading
- Holt White, A. E. & Rashleigh (editors) (1894): The butterflies and moths of Teneriffe. Illustrated from the author's drawings. L. Reeve & Co., London
- Gardiner, B. (2003) The possible cause of extinction of Pieris brassicae wollastoni Butler (Lepidoptera: Pieridae). Entomologist's Gazette 54:267–268