Réal's wood white facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Réal's wood white
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pieridae
Genus:	Leptidea
Species:	L. reali
Binomial name
Leptidea reali Reissinger 1989
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The Réal's wood white (Leptidea reali) is a type of butterfly. It belongs to the Pieridae family, which includes many white and yellow butterflies. This butterfly looks very much like its close relatives, making it a bit tricky to identify.

Where Réal's Wood White Lives

Réal's wood white butterflies have been found in many countries across western Europe. However, they have not been seen in Britain. In Ireland, this butterfly was officially identified in 2001. It is actually more common there than another similar butterfly called the wood white.

Because these butterflies look so much alike, scientists need to do more research. This will help them figure out exactly where Réal's wood white lives. Right now, its known locations on the continent seem a bit scattered.

The Cryptic Butterfly Mystery

In 2011, a special study looked closely at Réal's wood white. Scientists discovered that it is part of a "cryptic species complex." This means it's one of three butterfly species that look almost identical. The other two are the wood white (L. sinapis) and a new species called L. juvernica.

Scientists used advanced methods to tell them apart. They looked at the butterflies' DNA and their chromosomes (tiny parts inside cells). This study showed that L. reali is found only in Spain, Italy, and southern France. The new species, L. juvernica, lives in a much wider area. It ranges from Ireland and France all the way to Kazakhstan.

Scientists also tried to tell the species apart by measuring their body parts. They found that L. sinapis could be separated from the other two. However, L. juvernica and L. reali were still too similar to tell apart just by looking at them. Because it's so hard to spot, L. juvernica is also known as the cryptic wood white.

How They Behave

People who study butterflies in nature have noticed some differences. They say Réal's wood white flies more strongly than the wood white. It also seems to prefer more open areas. Some observers in Ireland also noticed that butterflies thought to be wood whites had a stronger green color. This green tinge was a clue that they might be a different species.

Life Cycle and Food

The life cycle of Réal's wood white seems to be similar to the wood white butterfly. This includes when they fly and what plants their caterpillars eat. More research is needed to fully understand their specific habits.

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  L. juvernica, in Northern Ireland.

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  Male specimen of L. juvernica from Ireland.