Small White

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

Resident

Range stable.

The Small White is a highly mobile species and each year the resident population is boosted by individuals flying in from mainland Europe. It is a common visitor to gardens where it breeds on brassicas and Nasturtium, though it relies less on cultivated brassica crops than the Large White and breeds on a range of wild foodplants. Adult butterflies are attracted to white flowers where they feed and on which they are well camouflaged when roosting. This is a common and widespread species.

Conservation status

• UK BAP status: not listed
• Butterfly Conservation priority: low
• European threat status: not threatened

European/world range

Throughout Europe and north-west Africa, and east to Asia and Japan. Introduced to North America in the nineteenth century and Australia in 1939, it is now widespread in both. Its range has changed little in Europe.

Foodplants

Cultivated brassicas are used, especially cabbages, and Nasturtium (Tropaeoleum majus) in gardens. Wild crucifers, including Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Charlock (Sinapis arvensis), Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Hoary Cress (Lepidium draba), and Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea) are used to a lesser extent.

Habitat

It occurs in almost any habitat but is most plentiful in gardens and fields where brassica crops are grown. Large numbers may congregate in fields of Oil-seed Rape. Elsewhere, it is found in smaller numbers especially in sheltered places such as hedgerows and field and wood edges where wild crucifers occur.