Small White
Artogeia rapae
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 25mm. Upperside is white with one black or grey spot on male’s forewing and two on female’s. Black or grey forewing patch extends further along the leading edge than down the side of the wing. There are two spots on the underside of the forewing in both sexes, and the underside of the hindwing is yellowish. Larva is mainly green.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Gardens, hedges and flowery places throughout Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies March–October, in 2–4 broods. Larvae feed on brassicas and nasturtiums.
Large White
Pieris brassicae
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 30mm. Black tips extend halfway down the forewing’s edge. Upperside of the forewing has two black spots in female. Underside of the forewing has two spots in both sexes. Larva is green with black spots and yellow stripes.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Gardens and other places with flowers throughout Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies April–October, in 1–3 broods. Larvae feed on brassicas and nasturtiums.
Green-veined White
Artogeia napi
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 23mm. Black spots and patches on the forewing are less distinct than in Small and Large Whites (A. rapae and Pieris brassicae). There are grey lines along the veins on the underside of the hindwing. Larva is similar to that of Small White.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Gardens, hedges, woodland margins and other flowery places throughout Europe.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies March–November, in 1–3 broods. Larvae eat crucifers such as Garlic Mustard, Lady’s Smock and Water-cress.
Black-veined White
Aporia crataegi
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 30mm. Upperside is white, grey at tip of forewing, with dark brown or black veins. Underside is similar with a few black scales. Larva is grey with darker and red-brown lines.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Open country from sea level up to 1,800m. Sometimes seen in clusters at wet mud patches. Widespread in southern and central Europe; extinct in Britain since the 1920s.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies May–July. One brood a year. Larvae usually feed on Hawthorn, but also on Prunus spp.
Orange Tip
Anthocaris cardamines
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 23mm. Male has orange wing-tips and green blotches on the underside of the hindwing. Female has greyish patches on the forewing, and mottled underwings. Larva is up to 33m long, and green finely spotted with black.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Hedgerows, gardens, damp meadows and woodland margins. All Europe except south-west and east Spain, and northern Scandinavia.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies April–June. Larvae eat Garlic Mustard, Lady’s Smock, and also Sweet Rocket and Honesty in gardens. Overwinters as a pupa.
Clouded Yellow
Colias crocea
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 25mm. Upperside is strong orange-yellow with black borders to both forewings and hindwings. Female has yellow spotting in black wing border. Underside of both sexes has black spots on a ground colour of dusky yellow-grey. Larva is green with a pale stripe.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Heaths and open areas at up to 1,800m. Southern and central Europe. Migrates to Britain.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies April–May onwards. Several broods a year. Larvae feed on clovers and vetches.
Pale Clouded Yellow
Colias hyale
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 23mm. Male has a pale lemon yellow upperwing with dark grey or black borders. Female is white tinged with yellow-green. Larva is green and speckled black with a white stripe along each side.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Flowery meadows and fields at up to and above 1,800m. Southern and eastern Europe. Absent in Italy. Migrates north; rarely to Britain. May be mistaken for Berger’s Clouded Yellow (C. alfacariensis), another rare migrant to Britain.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies May–June and August–September. Two broods a year. Larvae feed on Lucerne and vetches.
Brimstone
Gonepteryx rhamni
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 30mm. Male’s wings are sulphur yellow on top, paler beneath. Female is almost white with a pale green tinge, but lacks the Large White’s (Pieris brassicae) black markings. Larva is green with white stripes along the sides.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Open woodland, gardens and flowery places. All Europe, but not most of Scotland and northern Scandinavia.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies February–September. Larvae eat Buckthorn and Alder Buckthorn. Adults overwinter in hollies and ivies.
Wood White
Leptidea sinapis
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 22mm. A delicate white butterfly. Wings are more oval than those of other whites. Male has rather darker charcoal wing-tips than female. Larva is green with a black line along the centre of its back.
HABITAT AND DISTRIBUTION
Woodlands and adjoining meadows. Most of Europe, but not northern Britain. The similar Réal’s White (L. reali) is found in Ireland. It has more slender wings, darker wing-tips and darker hindwings.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies May–August. Usually single brood a year in Britain, 1–3 broods elsewhere. Larvae feed on vetches and related plants.
Bath White
Pontia daplidice
SIZE AND DESCRIPTION
Forewing 22mm. Upperside is white with dark grey/black markings to the tip of the forewing; hindwing is greyer. Underside has grey-green markings. Female has larger markings on the forewing than male, and a dark spot on the underside of the forewing. Larva is greenish with three yellow stripes.
HABITAT AND DESCRIPTION
Lowlands at up to 1,800m, on rough ground and meadows. Southern and central Europe; rare vagrant in Britain.
FOOD AND HABITS
Flies February–March onwards. Migratory. Two or more broods a year. Larvae feed on a wide variety of crucifers.