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| UK Status |
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| Resident |
A species which is continually Resident in the UK with stable breeding populations. |
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| Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Migrant in the UK. It may be able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Migrants are normally reported in the UK every year. |
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| Rare Migrant |
A species which occurs as a Rare Migrant in the UK. It may able to breed here although they are usually unable to survive our winter months. Rare Migrants may not be seen for many years. |
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| Extinct |
A species which is Extinct in the UK, usually as a result of habitat loss. |
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| Introduction |
A species which ocurs in the UK as an accidental introduction. |
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Description
The larvae of the Green-viened White are green in colour and covered with short hairs similar to the larvae of the Small White. It does not feed on cultivated crucifers and is not a pest of cabbage crops.
Adults can be seen on the wing from early April until September. There are two broods individuals from the first brood are smaller than the second brood. Females are generally more heavily patterned than the males having larger/darker and more black patches on the upper forewings but both sexes are very variable depending upon location and season.
Habitat
A very adaptable butterfly occurring in almost all localities and one of the world's most successful butterflies. The Green-veined White prefers hedgerows and river banks with lush vegetation in sheltered damp locations where the larval food plant and abundant nectar sources such as dandelion can be found.
Larval Food Plants
The larvae of the Green-veied White will feed on a variety of plants including Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) Charlock (Sinapis arvensis) Water-cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum), Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis).
British Subspecies
The following sub-species of the Green-veined White occur in the UK.
 Green-veined White - Pieris napi britannica (Muller & Kautz, 1939) - Restricted to Ireland.
Green-veined White - Pieris napi sabellicae (Stephens, 1827) - England, Wales and parts of southern Scotland.
Green-veined White - Pieris napi thomsoni (Warren, 1968) - Occurs in Scotland extending into northern England.
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| Stock Photography Library |
| We have 19 photographs of the Green-veined White in the British Butterflies photo library |
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BB1776 - Green-veined White
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BB1775 - Green-veined White
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BB979 - Green-veined White
DSC_5256.JPG
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BB901 - Green-veined White
DSC_4936.JPG
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BB856 - Green-veined White
DSC_4911.JPG
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BB798 - Green-veined White
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BB797 - Green-veined White
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BB722 - Green-veined White
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| Distribution |
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| One of the UK's most widespread butterflies found throughout the UK except the Shetland Islands. |
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| Where to see the Green-veined White |
| One of the UK's most widespread butterflies found throughout the UK except the Shetland Islands. |
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| Population Trends |
| species status |
the Green-veined White is a resident species in Britain |
| population trend1 |
(1995-2004)  up by 7% |
(1976-2004) up by 11% |
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1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M.
(2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
| UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) Status |
| UK BAP status2 |
not listed (link) |
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| 2 For more information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species status, visit www.ukbap.org.uk. |
| IUCN Category Status |
| IUCN category3 |
 least concern4 |
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3 Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4 More information about IUCN categories available here. |
| Find Out More Online* |
| More information about the Green-veined White can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site. |
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Aberrations and Forms |
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| We currently know of 7 named aberrant forms of the Green-veined White. More information about aberrants can be found here. |
 ab. fumigata - Gillmer (1905) |
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| ab. fumosa - Thompson (1947) |
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| ab. grisea - Sibille (1927) |
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| ab. impunctata - Röber (1907) |
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| ab. pallidus - Frohawk (1938) |
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| ab. subtalba - Schima (1910) |
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| ab. subtimpunctata - Müller (1939) |
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| References |
| The information on this web site comes from a variety of freely available resources including books, academic reports and web sites alongside my own personal observations of butterflies. The species descriptions are currently in the process of being edited (spring 2009) to include new data, recent personal observations and referencing following a major update to the site.
A complete list of references mentioned in the text on this web site is available here. |
| * External Links Disclaimer |
| This web site includes links to information provided by external web sites which are not in any way under the control of www.britishbutterflies.co.uk. We cannot, therefore, be held responsible for the content of external web pages. |
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40-52mm
