Habitat: Grasslands, tree avenues and hedgerows, fallow land, dry calcareous grasslands and steppes.

Appearance: In Europe: Central and southern Italy, Elba, Sicily, the Balkans, Greece (including Crete, Lesbos, Inousses, Chios, Forni, Samos, Ikaria, Kos, Rhodes, Kastellorizo) and probably also occurs in Portugal and France.

Flying time: Two generations, overlapping generations from early March to early June.

Characteristics: Wingspan 35-50 mm.

Life cycle: Various host plants such as Wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis), Dyer’s-weed (Isatis tinctoria), etc. The female lays her eggs on the flower buds of the host plant. The caterpillars eat the flowers and ripening fruits. Overwinters as a pupa. Butterflies feed on nectar from various flowers in their habitat.