Green-veined White (Early Stages)

Post by **Vince Massimo** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 12:11 pm

The Green-veined White is one of the most widespread species in the British Isles, and it is especially common in damp grasslands and woodland rides. It gets its name from the often beautiful and variable markings on the undersides of its wings, although there tends to be some general correlation in the appearance of individuals within a particular seasonal brood. In most parts of Britain it is double brooded and there is small third brood in warm years.

The egg and larva

The butterfly utilises many of the larval host plants favoured by other species of White, including Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Water Cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) and various crucifers as well as Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus). The pale conical eggs are laid singly on the host plant and look very similar to those of the Small White.

: GVW Ovum - Godstone, Surrey 21-Aug-2013

However, on one occasion I saw a female mistakenly lay an egg on a nettle leaf which was in close proximity to the intended Garlic Mustard food plant. I resolved this situation later.

: GVW egg on nettle - Arundel, Sussex 8-Sept-2023

The young larva is very pale when it hatches and will consume part or all of its eggshell before starting on the leaves of the plant. It soon acquires its green colouration and has a close resemblance to the appearance of the larva of the Small White.

: GVW larva eating eggshell - Crawley, Sussex 12-Sept-2023

: GVW first instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 12-Sept-2023

: GVW first instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 10-Sept-2023

: GVW first instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 10-May-2017

: GVW first instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 10-May-2017

: GVW first instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 12-May-2017

: GVW first instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 12-May-2017

The early instars feed underneath the leaves of the food plant, forming tell-tale holes.

: GVW first instar feeding damage on Garlic Mustard leaf - Crawley, Sussex 11-May-2017

: GVW second instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 11-May-2015

: GVW second instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 11-May-2015

: GVW second instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 14-May-2017

: GVW second instar larva (pre-moult) - Crawley, Sussex 15-May-2017

: GVW third instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 15-May-2017

: GVW third instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 16-May-2017

: GVW third instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 17-May-2017

: GVW third instar larva (pre-moult) - Crawley, Sussex 20-May-2015

: GVW third instar larva (moulting) - Crawley, Sussex 20-May-2015

: GVW fourth instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 21-May-2015

: GVW fourth instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 18-May-2017

: GVW fourth instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 19-May-2017

: GVW fourth instar larva (pre-moult) - Crawley, Sussex 24-May-2015

: GVW fifth instar larva (post moult) - Crawley, Sussex 24-May-2015

: GVW fifth instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 25-May-2015

: GVW fifth instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 22-Sept-2023

: GVW fifth instar larva - Crawley, Sussex 7-Sept-2016

: GVW fifth instar larva (fully grown) - Crawley, Sussex 29-May-2015

One difference between this and the larva of the Small White is that the GVW does not have a strong the pale yellow stripe down its back, however it can sometimes be visible in the 4th instar, but is gone by the 5th instar. The principal diagnostic feature differentiating it from the larva of its close relative is the colouration around the spiracles which lie along the flank of the caterpillar.

: Small White larval segments (flank)

: Green-veined White larval segments (flank)

When ready to pupate the larva usually leaves the food plant to find a sheltered spot low down in vegetation, although it has also been found to utilise posts, fences and tree trunks.

: GVW larva (2 hours before pupation) - Crawley, Sussex 30-May-2015

: GVW larva preparing to pupate 30-May-2015

: GVW larva commencing pupation 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: Larva pupating 30-May-2015

: GVW pupa (freshly emerged) 30-May-2015

Post by **Vince Massimo** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 12:39 pm

THE PUPA

Not only can pupae of this species be characterised by different colour forms (green and brown), but also by the function that they serve. There is a soft form which specifically gives rise to an adult in the same season. This can come in a variety of colours and, because it does not have survive through the winter, has a thinner and more translucent pupal case. The over-wintering form has an altogether more robust casing, with particularly noticeable raised and thickened veins on the wing covers.

: GVW overwintering pupa (4 days old) with raised veins - Crawley, Sussex 2-June-2017

: GVW pupa (soft form) 3 days old - Crawley, Sussex 29-May-2017

: GVW pupa (soft form) 6 days old - Crawley, Sussex 1-June-2017

: GVW pupa (soft form) 29 hours before emergence - Crawley, Sussex 2-June-2017

: GVW pupa (soft form) 12 hours before emergence - Crawley, Sussex 3-June-2017

: GVW pupa (soft form) 7 hours before emergence - Crawley, Sussex 4-June-2017

Both forms of pupa illustrated above came from eggs from the same female which were laid on the same day. Two produced adults in 12 days from soft pupae, while the third resulted in an overwintering pupa.

The following example is a green form which developed into a female in 11 days.

: GVW larva preparing to pupate - Crawley, Sussex 9-May-2015

: GVW pupa (freshly emerged) 30-May-2015

: GVW pupa (1 hour old) 30-May-2015

: GVW pupa (2 hours old) 30-May-2015

: GVW pupa (6 hours old) 30-May-2015

: GVW pupa (1 day old) 31-May-2015

: GVW pupa (3 days old) 3-June-2015

: GVW pupa (6 days old) 6-June-2015

: GVW pupa (72 hours before emergence) 7-June-2015

: GVW pupa (48 hours before emergence) 8-June-2015

: GVW pupa (27 hours before emergence) 9-June-2015

: GVW pupa (5 hours before emergence) 10-June-2015

: GVW pupa (3 hours before emergence) 10-June-2015

: GVW pupa (1 hour before emergence) 10-June-2015

: GVW emerging 10-June-2015

: GVW expanding wings 10-June-2015

The following is the development of a brown form of the pupa which overwintered and produced a male.

: GVW larva preparing to pupate - Caterham, Surrey 1-Oct-2013

: GVW pupa (1 hour old) 2-Oct-2013

: GVW pupa (5 hours old) 2-Oct-2013

: GVW pupa (9 hours old) 2-Oct-2013

: GVW pupa (25 hours old) 3-Oct-2013

: GVW pupa (7 days old) 8-Oct-2013

: GVW pupa (6 weeks before emergence) 6-March-2014

: GVW pupa (24 hours before emergence) 18-April-2014

: GVW pupa (10 hours before emergence) 19-April-2014

: GVW pupa (6 hours before emergence) 19-April-2014

: GVW pupa (2 hours before emergence) 19-April-2014

: GVW pupa (10 minutes before emergence) 19-April-2014

: GVW commencing emergence 19-April-2014

: Adult emerging 19-April-2014

: Adult emerging 19-April-2014

: Adult emerging 19-April-2014

: Adult emerging 19-April-2014

: Adult emerging 19-April-2014

: Expanding wings 19-April-2014

: Hardening wings 19-April-2014

In this case, commencing at 7.39pm, it took the adult 60 seconds to emerge. The fact that it was male was already known by the markings showing through the transparent pupal case, but it was surprising to see that the underside was so beautifully marked. It was released 40 hours later when weather conditions permitted.

: GVW male release - Caterham, Surrey 21-April-2014

: GVW underwing detail

: GVW male release - Caterham, Surrey 21-April-2014

Reading References:

The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland (Thomas and Lewington 2014)
UK Butterflies Website

Post by **Vince Massimo** » Wed Apr 23, 2014 12:58 pm

Reference Images of Adults

: GVW male (first brood) - Addington, Surrey 21-May-2012

: GVW male (second brood) - Chaldon, Surrey 30-July-2012

: GVW male (second brood) - Woldingham, Surrey 23-June-2011

: GVW male (first brood) - Chaldon, Surrey 13-April-2010

: GVW male (second brood) - Southwater Wood, Sussex 5-July-2010

: GVW female (third brood) - Chaldon, Surrey 15-Sept-2011

: GVW female (first brood) - Crawley, Sussex 27-April-2006

: GVW female (second brood) - Caterham, Surrey 6-July-2010

: GVW mating pair (second brood) - Woldingham, Surrey 30-June-2011

As the early stages of this species can look so similar to those of the Small White, you can see those details here:
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=4681

Vince

Post by **Vince Massimo** » Tue Sep 01, 2015 2:48 pm

This report has now been completely revised with many new images and text changes. In order to avoid any confusion, all reference to the original has been removed (including comments). I was pleased to get the opportunity of updating it and so a fresh start was considered the best way of presentation

.

Vince

Further significant revisions were made on 23rd July 2017, including additional images.

Green-veined White (Early Stages)

Green-veined White (Early Stages)

Re: Green-veined White (Early Stages)

Re: Green-veined White (Early Stages)

Re: Green-veined White (Early Stages)