Green-veined White

Scientific Name - Pieris napi

Flight Period - April to October (two broods)

Overwinters as - Pupa

Habitat - Gardens, parks, grasslands, woodlands etc.

Larval foodplants - Crucifers including Cuckoo Flower (Lady’s Smock), Garlic Mustard, Nasturtium etc.

Conservation status - Low priority

Northamptonshire distribution - Widespread

Best public sites to see them - Anywhere with suitable habitat

The Green-veined White is a common butterfly that can be seen anywhere with suitable habitat. It is an easy butterfly to identify when settled but it can look remarkably like other species of butterflies when in flight. The darker markings along the veins on the underwings give this butterfly its name. These markings on the veins can also show through on the upperwings, but when viewing from above it is far easier to examine the dark marks on the apexes of the forewings as in the Green-veined White they are broken and form a line of triangles along the outer margin. During periods of hot dry weather, Green-veined Whites can congregate in large numbers at any puddles and can be quite an impressive sight. For more information on how to identify the commoner Whites please click here.

Green-veined White Distribution 2018 - 2022

Green-veined White upperwing

Green-veined White underwing

In dry periods Green-veined Whites will readily congregate on the ground to seek moisture

Green-veined Whites mating