Réal's Wood White

Leptidea reali is known to occur in Spain, Italy and southern France. L. reali was formerly thought to occur in Ireland but this population is now known to be L. juvernica. Since the three species look and behave similarly, further research is needed to discover their true distribution; indeed on the continent the current known distribution of L. reali is suspiciously patchy. L. reali can be separated from L. sinapis by analysis of the male genital morphology, but it cannot be reliably separated this way from L. juvernica. Field lepidopterists have reported behavioural differences between L. reali and L. sinapis with Réal's being described as a stronger flier and with a preference for more open habitats.

The life cycle, flight period and food plants appear at present to be similar to the wood white.