Small White

Pieris rapae

Friday, 10 April 2009

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David Dennis

Top 10 - Small White

Pieris rapae

A smaller version of its large white cousin, this butterfly is if anything even commoner, and with the meadow brown of late summer may be the commonest species in Britain. The adult insect is distinguished from the large white by less bold markings; the caterpillars are quite different, being green instead of black and yellow, and harder to find, as they start feeding from the inside of a cabbage rather than on the outer leaves.

Larval foodplants: brassicas ? that is, all members of the cabbage family, such as cabbages, cauliflowers, Brussels sprouts, etc., as well as wild cabbage in coastal areas, and also nasturtiums.

Where seen: anywhere, but especially gardens, especially those with vegetable patches, allotments, agricultural land where brassica crops are grown.

Current conservation status: the small white is 20 per dent down in numbers since 1976, probably because of increased pesticide use.

enlarge

A smaller version of its large white cousin, this butterfly is if anything even more common, and with the meadow brown of late summer may be the commonest species in Britain.

The adult insect is distinguished from the large white by less bold markings; the caterpillars are quite different, being green instead of black and yellow, and harder to find, as they start feeding from the inside of a cabbage rather than on the outer leaves.

Larval food plants: As with the large white butterfly, brassicas – all members of the cabbage family – and nasturtiums.

Where seen: Anywhere, but especially gardens with vegetable patches, and allotments.

Current conservation status: The small white is 20 per cent down in numbers since 1976, probably because of increased pesticide use.

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