Higher classification Pontia | Scientific name Pontia daplidice Rank Species | |
 | ||
Similar Pontia, Butterflies and moths, Butterfly, Pieridae, Colias croceus | ||
Pontia daplidice, the Bath white, is a small butterfly of the family Pieridae, the yellows and whites, which occurs in the Palearctic region. It is common in central and southern Europe, migrating northwards every summer, often reaching southern Scandinavia and sometimes southern England.
Contents
Description
Distribution and habitat
This butterfly is common in central and southern Europe, Asia Minor, Persia and Afghanistan, migrating northwards in the summer. In Central Asia, the Bath white ranges from Baluchistan, Peshawar, Chitral, Kashmir and along the Himalayas right across the Central Himalayas up to Darjeeling. The butterfly appears to be extending its range westwards along the Himalayas. It is usually found on dry slopes and rough ground with little vegetation.
Host plants
The host plants of the larvae are in the Brassicaceae family and vary according to locality. They include tower mustard (Arabis glabra) and sea rocket (Cakile maritima).
Taxonomy
The following subspecies are recognised:
Habitat
The butterfly lives in the Mediterranean coastal dunes, on rocky, hot slopes etc.
Pinned specimen from 1702
The Hope Entomological Collection in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History contains a specimen of this species dating from 1702, which is the oldest pinned entomological specimen still on its original pin in existence.