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This is a common butterfly of damp grassland and woodland rides and is often mistaken for its cousin, the Small White. It can be found from spring through to autumn in parks and gardens, as well as less-urban areas such as meadows and woodland rides. The so-called green veins on the underside of the adults are, in fact, an illusion created by a subtle combination of yellow and black scales. This is one of the most widespread species found in the British Isles and can be found almost everywhere although it is absent from Shetland and areas of the Scottish Highlands. Subspecies: Pieris napi napi The nominate subspecies was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Sweden). It is not found in the British Isles. Subspecies: Pieris napi sabellicae This subspecies was first defined in Stephens (1828) as shown here and as shown in this plate (type locality: England). This subspecies is found in England and Wales. However, in the north of England and southern Scotland, there is no clear dividing line between the distribution of this subspecies and that of the subspecies thomsoni. Bowden (1975) considers the name sabellicae to be redundant, suggesting septentrionalis Verity (1916, type-locality Westcliff-on-sea) instead. Spring brood males have very feint markings and often lack the single spot on each forewing, whereas summer brood males have more pronounced markings. Spring brood females, on the other hand, are generally more heavily marked than their offspring, especially on the forewings. In both sexes, summer brood adults are generally larger than those of the spring brood.
Spring Brood
Summer Brood
Subspecies: Pieris napi thomsoni This subspecies was first defined in Warren (1968) as shown here (type locality: Sheriffmuir, West Perthshire). This subspecies exhibits minor colour differences with the subspecies sabellicae. This subspecies is found in Scotland, with most records coming from a belt between Argyllshire in the west and Fifeshire and East Lothian in the south-east. Another stronghold is the Thurso district of Caithness. In southern Scotland and in the north of England, there is no clear dividing line between the distribution of this subspecies and that of the subspecies sabellicae. This subspecies also exhibits differences between spring and summer broods, as described for the subspecies sabellicae. This subspecies differs from the subspecies sabellicae as follows: 1. On the upperside, the veins of the forewings, and sometimes hindwings, are heavily suffused with black. This is especially true in the female. 2. On the underside of the hindwings, a small proportion of adults have a yellow, rather than white, ground colour, which may be tinged with orange. This is especially true in the female. 3. The underside is generally darker, with the dark scaling on the veins appearing more black than grey.
Spring Brood
Summer Brood
Subspecies: Pieris napi britannica This subspecies was first defined in Müller & Kautz (1939) (type locality: Ireland). This subspecies is found throughout Ireland, where it is common. This subspecies exhibits differences between spring and summer broods, as described for the subspecies sabellicae. Spring Brood
Summer Brood
First-brood adults typically emerge in late April, peaking around the middle of May and gradually tailing off through June. The second brood, which is always stronger than the first brood, starts to emerge in early July. However, in good years, the second brood may emerge in late June and give rise to a third brood. Subspecies: Pieris napi sabellicae Subspecies: Pieris napi thomsoni Subspecies: Pieris napi britannica The chart(s) above have been correlated with the phenology plot below, taken from the UK Butterfly Monitoring Scheme. The blue line gives average counts over the full data set from 1976 to date, and the red line gives the average for the last year. 
The butterfly can be found in a variety of locations, including parks, gardens, meadows, woodland rides, hedgerows and, in fact, anywhere foodplants and nectar sources exist. This species favours damp areas but can also be found in small sheltered pockets, such as patches of scrub, in dry and open habitat such as chalk grassland.
The primary larval foodplants are Charlock (Sinapis arvensis), Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale), Large Bitter-cress (Cardamine amara), Water-cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum), Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). Crucifers (various) (Cruciferae family (various)) and Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) are also used.
Adults feed primarily on Betony (Stachys officinalis), Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scriptus), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Buttercups (Ranunculus spp.), Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), Ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), Red Campion (Silene dioica), Thistles (Cirsium spp. and Carduus spp.) and Vetches (Vicia spp.).
As in most species, the males emerge a few days earlier than the females, and spend much of their time searching for a mate as they fly along woodland rides and hedgerows. As well as taking nectar, males may also be seen congregating on mud or other surfaces that are rich in nutrients, giving rise to the phenomenon known as “mud puddling”. As in many whites, an already-mated female will indicate an unwillingness to mate by holding her wings flat and her abdomen upright, making it impossible for a male to mate with her. However, this doesn’t always work, and females have been known to mate more than once, although this is completely unnecessary for the fertilisation of the eggs. Subspecies: Pieris napi sabellicae Spring Brood
Summer Brood
Subspecies: Pieris napi thomsoni Spring Brood
Summer Brood
Subspecies: Pieris napi britannica Spring Brood
Summer Brood
This species exhibits great variation in the colour and shade of the ground colour as well as the extent of the spotting. As usual in the 'whites' many aberrations are unique to either male or female specimens, and being seasonally dimorphic some aberrations are also specific to the generation or 'brood'. This species has been the subject of much experimental breeding in the past, particularly of the impressive aberrations suphurea and fasciata. The aberration sulphurea has been recorded chiefly in Scotland and Ireland and specimens from these areas were bred en masse by entomologists in the early 20th century. These aberrations were popular with breeders and collectors and while scarce now in the wild, a large number of these impressive forms can be found in collections. There are 79 named aberrations known to occur in Britain. Click here to see a full list of aberrations for this species.
Eggs are laid singly on the underside of a leaf of the foodplant. Small plants are preferred, and the eggs hatch in approximately a week depending on temperature. Eggs are sometimes found on the same plants as those used by the Orange-tip. However, the two species are not in competition since the Green-veined White eats the leaves of the plant, whereas the Orange-tip eats the developing seed pods.
The larva eats its eggshell on hatching, before starting to feed on the leaves of the foodplant. There are 4 moults in total and this stage lasts between 3 and 4 weeks.
The pupa is generally formed away from the foodplant, low down in vegetation. It is supported by a silk girdle and the cremaster. The pupa has 2 colour forms, green and light brown, although some pupae have an intermediate colouring. This stage lasts around 10 days unless overwintering.
Large WhiteDescription to be completed. Orange-tipDescription to be completed. Small WhiteThe Green-veined White and Small White are most easily distinguished by their undersides, where the Green-veined White has pronounced markings along the veins which are absent in the Small White. 
Green-veined White (left) and Small White (right) It is much more difficult to distinguish between the Green-veined White and Small White based on the upperside, since the amount of marking is highly variable. In general, the veins of the Green-veined White are more pronounced. Also, the marking at the apex of the forewing of a Green-veined White often extends down the along the edge of the forewing and is not contiguous. The marking at the apex of a Small White never extends down the edge of the forewing and is unbroken. 
Green-veined White male (left) and Small White male (right)
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.
This is the most widespread butterfly in the British Isles and its status is considered relative-stable. It is not, therefore, a species of conservation concern.
From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:
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![Green-Veined White - imago - Macclesfield Forest - 11-Aug-07 [Janette Bowler]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/7b8587367967e7f8aae7ad4d3f112ef7.jpg "Green-Veined White - imago - Macclesfield Forest - 11-Aug-07 [Janette Bowler]")
![Green-veined White - imago - Fakenham - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/2a36c50c3debfe3adf209b402870d2f2.jpg "Green-veined White - imago - Fakenham - Unknown date [Adrian Riley]")
![Green-Veined White - imago - North Kessock - Unknown date [Phil Brown]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/397180c66d6937e3d79dd048321b3320.jpg "Green-Veined White - imago - North Kessock - Unknown date [Phil Brown]")
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![Green-Veined White - pupa - Unknown location - 2003 [REARED] [Reg Fry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/26b4d902c2c634e7c5eceb0da0c9c5db.jpg "Green-Veined White - pupa - Unknown location - 2003 [REARED] [Reg Fry]")
