Scientific name: Pieris napi
Widespread and common throughout Britain and Ireland.
Wings white with prominent greenish veins on hind wing. Upper wings have one or more spots. Small White is similar but lacks the green veins.
Size and Family
- Family – Whites and yellows
- Medium Sized
- Wing Span Range (male to female) - 50mm
Conservation status
- UK BAP status: Not listed
- Butterfly Conservation priority: Low
- European status: Not threatened
Caterpillar Foodplants
A range of wild crucifers is used: Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) Water- cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum), Charlock (Sinapis arvensis), Large Bitter-cress (C. amara), Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), and Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and cultivated crucifers are used occassionally.
Distribution
- Countries – England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.
- Widespread throughout Britain and Ireland
- Distribution Trend Since 1970’s = Britain: -1%
Habitat
A common butterfly that prefers damp, lush vegetation where the foodplant is found. It usually occurs in hedgerows, ditches, banks of rivers, lakes and ponds, damp meadows, moorland and woodland rides and edges. The butterfly can be found in gardens but favours damp areas.
Factsheets
- Butterflies and farmland
- Farmland Butterflies ID chart
- Woodlands for Butterflies and Moths
- Butterflies in towns and cities














