| British Butterflies: Species: Species Account - The Green-veined White: |
Green-veined White
Pieris napi (Linnaeus, 1758)
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Nomenclature
Insecta: Lepidoptera : Family Pieridae: Subfamily Pierinae : Genus Pieris: Species napi: |
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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. |
Distribution
One of the UK's most widespread butterflies found throughout the UK except the Shetland Islands. |
Where to see the Green-veined White in the British Isles
One of the UK's most widespread butterflies found throughout the UK except the Shetland Islands. |
Other notes
Some specimens of this butterfly can be very attractive due to heavy marking of the veins. |
Lifecycle chart
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Flight chart
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| The lifecycle and flight charts should be regarded as approximate guides to the Green-veined White in Britain. Specific lifecycle states, adult emergence and peak flight times vary from year to year due to variations in weather conditions. |
| IUCN category status 2010 5 |
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IUCN category status 2007 34 |
 --awaiting data--
5Fox, R., Warren, M., Brereton, T. M., Roy, D. B. & Robinson, A.
(2010) A new Red List of British Butterflies. Insect Conservation and Diversity.
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 Least Concern
3Fox, R., Warren, M & Brereton, T.
(2007) New Red List of British Butterflies. Butterfly Conservation, Wareham.
4More information about IUCN categories. |
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Wingspan
40-52mm |
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UK status
Resident |
Larval foodplants
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
 Pieris napi ssp. britannica (Muller & Kautz, 1939)
Restricted to Ireland.
Pieris napi ssp. sabellicae (Stephens, 1827)
England, Wales and parts of southern Scotland.
Pieris napi ssp. thomsoni (Warren, 1968)
Occurs in Scotland extending into northern England.
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Butterflies of Britain ID Chart
Your personal guide to British Butterflies. This 8-panel laminated chart is designed for speedy butterfly identification in the field. Ideal for anyone interested in identifying butterflies, perfect for children and adults and ideal for outdoor use, laminated, shower-proof and robust. |
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Online store
Visit our online store for many more butterfly related books and gifts. |
Population trends 1
UK Population trend 1995-2004  up by 7%
UK Population trend 1976-2004 up by 11%
1Fox, R., Asher. J., Brereton. T., Roy, D & Warren, M. (2006) The State of Butterflies in Britain & Ireland, Pices, Oxford. |
UK BAP status 2
UK BAP status not listed (link)
2For information about the UK Biodiversity Action Plan, visit the JNCC web site jncc.defra.gov.uk. |
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National Biodiversity Network Gateway Distribution
Map
Areas in  and  indicate a contraction in distribution of the Green-veined White except in Ireland where data is only available up until 1999.
* Records shown in  outside the natural distribution may be the result of illegal or accidental releases by breeders or, depending upon the species, migrant individuals from mainland Europe.
Key to map*
= 2000 to 2010 inclusive (current distribution)
= records from 1950 to 1999 inclusive
= records from 1900 to 1949 inclusive
Records prior to 1st January 1900 are not shown.
The NBN Gateway records are shown on the map right. (See terms and conditions).
More data is available on the Green-veined White on the NBN Gateway web site. 
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References
For full details of books and reports mentioned on this web site, view the references page.
Find out more online*
Green-veined White can be found on Peter Eeles excellent UK Butterflies web site.
Green-veined White can be found on Matt Rowlings excellent European Butterflies web site.
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| Photographs of the Green-veined White |
Aberrations and forms
There are 7 named aberrant forms of the Green-veined White currently listed. Find out more about aberrants 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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