Leptidea sinapis (Linnaeus, 1758)

Host plants:
The larvae feed on several Fabaceae like Vicia, Lathyrus, Coronilla, Dorycnium and especially Lotus.

Habitat:
Leptidea sinapis inhabits nutrient-poor grasslands, mountain slopes, pastures, open (pine) woodland and other most often mesophilous or dry habitats. It is - obviously contrarily to L. juvernica - only rarely found in wetland habitats.

Life cycle:
The adults occur in two or more rarely also three generations between April and August/September. The oviposition occurs singly on lower sides of leaves or on stems. The hibernation occurs in the pupal stage.

Endangerment factors:
Leptidea sinapis is regionally pushed back because of the loss of nutrient-poor grasslands and open woodland. It is only regionally still common (e.g. many regions of the Alps).

Remarks:
Leptidea sinapis can only be distinguished from its sister species L. juvernica by examination of the genitalia. In the northern Alps obviously mainly Leptidea sinapis is found, but further north usually both taxa occur. A third taxon, L. reali, is only distinguishable from L. juvernica by molecular methods. This taxon is so far not found in central Europe, but e.g. from the spanish Pyrenees to southern France and N-Italy.

The total distribution extends from Europe to the Tien Shan.