Madeiran Large White

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Madeiran Large White
Conservation status
Critically Endangered (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Lepidoptera Family: Pieridae Genus: Pieris Species: Large White Subspecies: P. brassicae wollastoni
Trinomial name
Pieris brassicae wollastoni Butler, 1886
Synonyms
Pieris wollastoni Pieris cheiranti wollastoni

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. It was was not found despite of extensive surveys during the past 15 years and is possibly extinct. The latin name commemorates Thomas Vernon Wollaston, an entomologist who has discovered several insect taxa on Madeira.

[edit] References

• Van Swaay, C.A.M. & Warren, M.S. (2000). Pieris wollastoni. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 31 July 2007.
• Large White
• Man drives butterfly into extinction and it could be bad news for us too