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From http://www.britishbutterflies.co.uk
Text and Images copyright Steven Cheshire 2000 -
- All rights reserved.
(date created 08/09/2010)
URL http://www.britishbutterflies.co.uk/asp/species.asp?vernacular=Large White
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Description
The larvae of the Large White feed on wild and cultivated species of the Cruciferae family. The larvae are often encountered on Cabbage and Brussels-sprout plus Oil-seed Rape. The larvae are brightly coloured.
The Large White is on the wing between the end of April to end of June and mid July to October although numbers drop rapidly by mid September. The Large White is the UK's largest white butterfly. It is not always a welcome visitor to gardens and allotments due to the damage inflicted on brassica crops by the larvae which are capable of completely devouring large areas of cabbages. Over recent years the use of pesticides has effected its numbers quite dramaticallly in some places in the UK.
Habitat
A very mobile and migrant species which may be found in any location. The majority of adults are to be found close to breeding areas where brassica crops are grown.
Larval Food Plants
Cruciferae family Cabbages etc plus Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea). |
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| Distribution |
| The Large White can be found throughout the UK. Although this is a resident species which breeds in large numbers in the UK the population is added to by migrants fro mainland Europe. Numbers vary from year to year. |
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| Where to see the Large White |
| The Large White can be found throughout the UK. Although this is a resident species which breeds in large numbers in the UK the population is added to by migrants fro mainland Europe. Numbers vary from year to year. |
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58-63mm
