Pieris rapae

[JohnR]

Does a male Small White ever appear without the black tips to the wings and with a white underside or should I be considering something else?

[David M]

I've known them to be very pale (especially in spring), but they always have a suggestion of dark colouring around the wing tips.

There's an image of an abnormally pale one on the species-specific pages which was reared by one of UKB's members. Perhaps yours was similar?

app.php/gallery/image/16879

[Padfield]

I agree there is usually at least a clouding of dark scales around the tips but this can be very faint in a spring male and they frequently look white until you get very close up.

This is a spring male - and quite typical, out here (Switzerland) at least:



Guy

[JohnR]

Thanks, that seems to fit the bill. It's behaviour was also qite unlike any Small White that enjoy my brassicas, it was my ancient 'phone camera that let me down.