Butterfly Identification, WHITES     next pageback to 1st Page

There are just 5 whites you will see in North Wales, and the only ones that are difficult to distinguish from each other are the Large White and the Small White. The Large White is larger, but unless you see them both together it may be difficult to tell the relative size. Males and females have different patterns of dots which may look very similar in both species. They only ever have pale yellow underwings. But the main diagnostic feature is how the black marking on the tops of the Large White's upper wings go further down the side than the Small White.
 

Whites; (The Pieridae family) Predominantly white butterflies with some black markings. Only 4 species common locally; Large and Small Whites ("Cabbage Whites" - these are the only two that eat your brassicas), Green-veined White with greenish veins on the underwing and Orange Tip, the male of which has orange tips on top wings, both sexes have mottled green underwing. If you are lucky you may see a butter-yellow Brimstone butterfly, which has a distinct point on all wings. Scarce locally.	Large White; (Pieris brassicae) Notice the black marking on the top tips goes further down the side of the wing than on the Small White. Its caterpillars feed on the cabbage family - both in gardens and in the wild! This was found to be THE most common butterfly by people across the UK who sent in records for the Butterfly Conservation "Garden Butterflies Count" project, launched by our Vice president, Alan Titchmarsh, in 2002 and 2003.Go to; www.butterfly-conservation.org to find out more. If you would like to record the butterflies that you see, click here; Recording		Small White (Artogeia rapae) Its caterpillar feeds on the cabbage family - brassicas in gardens and wild flowers like Charlock and Jack-by the Hedge which are also in the cabbage family.
Green-veined White  (Artogeia napi) The caterpillar feeds on Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) and Garlic Mustard or jack-by the Hedge. Often mistaken for Small White in flight, but look at the underwings and you will see these strong green 'veins'. You will get used to seeing them showing through the wing as a faint darker colour in flight.	Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) Often the first butterfly to be seen in early Spring, the adults love to nectar on Honesty flowers (seen in left picture) in the garden. The male has orange tips on the top wings,but the female does not, so could be mistaken for a Small White;  but both sexes have mottled green underwings, that can be seen as a faint shadow through to the top wing. The caterpillar feeds on Lady's Smock or Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis - and also on Garlic Mustard and Dame's Violet or Sweet Rocket..		Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni) The caterpillars feed on either Purging Buckthorn (Rhamnus catharticus) on lime soils or on Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) on boggy acid soils. It is thought to be scarce in North Wales simply because historically these two plants were not used for hedging, as they are in southern England where the Brimstone is common. You could help the Brimstone become more common in your garden by planting one of these shrubs; click here to see the plantlist and how to obtain your shrub.