Pieris krueperi Staudinger, 1860  
Krueper's Small White, Pieride de l'alysson ou Pieride de Kruper, Белянка крюпера. 

Distribution and biological peculiarities in Armenia: 
The species is found on the Balkan Peninsula and in Iran, Baluchistan, the Kopet-Dagh, and from Asia Minor to Central Asia, as well as in Oman. Armenia is inhabited by nominate subspecies, which is one of few butterfly species of the country specialized to live at rocks. The species occupies rather warm zone from semi-deserts located at about 500 m a.s.l. to calcareous grasslands located at about 2200 m a.s.l. Several Cruciferae have been suggested as the host plant of the species at the other parts of its distribution (such as Alyssum and Crambe), however none of those was proven for Armenia. The strange situation with host plants is caused also because those plants rarely grow at the rocks and cliffs, where the butterflies have been observed. According to the records of the species, it gives three generations per annum, having butterflies of first generation with more contrasting underside colors from late April till early June, when they slightly overlap with second generation that flies until late July, while the third generation’s butterflies have been recorded until early September. 

Population dynamics:
The species is slightly uncommon in the typical habitat, and shows stable population trend during 2003-2013 (p>0.05). It appears that this narrow specialist doesn’t faces threats in Armenia. 

Conservation measures: 
The species is not included in the Global and National Red Lists, as well as in CITES and Bern Conventions. For Armenia it could be considered as Least Concern, as it was designated in the European Red List. Even though, some parts of its distribution are covered by National Protected Areas, such as Khosrov Forest State Reserve, Gnishik Protected Landscape, and Zangezur Biosphere Complex; by Emerald Sites, which are overlapping with protected Areas, and Prime Butterfly Areas Agarak, Meghri, Kaladash, Shvanidzor, Gnisheek, and Ourtsadzor. The species is a top objects of butterfly watching and can help in development of nature tourism in Protected Areas.
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Photo: K. Aghababyan