Green-veined White

• Latin name: Pieris napi
• Family group: Whites and yellows
• Countries: England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
• Size: Medium

Resident

Range stable.

The Green-veined White can be found throughout the countryside, but prefers damp, sheltered areas. It breeds on wild crucifers and is not a pest of cabbage crops. In many areas away from human habitation, especially on higher ground and in northern latitudes, this species is more often encountered than Large or Small Whites. The dusky vein markings on the undersides of the wings are variable in colour and make it well camouflaged when it roosts among vegetation.

The butterfly is common and widespread in Britain and Ireland, but it is probably less abundant than formerly due to loss of its grassland habitats.

Conservation status

• Biodiversity Action Plan: not listed
• Butterfly Conservation priority: low
• European threat status: not threatened

European/world range

Across Europe (except for some Mediterranean islands), parts of North Africa, across Asia and in North America. Its range is stable in most European countries.

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 also used occasionally.

Habitat

Adults occur widely but tend to congregate in damp, lush vegetation where their foodplants are found, especially hedgerows, ditches, banks of rivers, lakes, and ponds, damp meadows and moorland, and woodland rides and edges.