Detection of the Large White butterfly Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758) (Lepidoptera, Pieridae) in Rapa Nui (Easter Island)

By

Cotoras, Darko D
Yancovic-Pakarati, Sebastián

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2023-2-23

Original Publication

Subterranean Biology

Volume

46

Pages

31--35

Subjects

Chile , introduction , Isla de Pascua , range expansion

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/nl.46.98421

 

Abstract

The Large White butterfly (Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758)) originally from the Palaearctic and previously introduced to South Africa and Chile is detected on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). The records correspond to all stages of the life cycle: eggs, caterpillars, pupa and adults. Caterpillars were found feeding on Tropaeolum majus. The introduction is likely to have occurred from mainland Chile, as the species has not been reported in French Polynesia. A dark green coloration present on the underside of the wings is congruent with the one reported from the Chilean population. The origin of colonisation still remains to be tested using molecular tools.