Best time to see: late Apr to mid Sep
Key facts
White butterfly with spectacular veined underwings
Habitat: damp uncultivated places, such as boggy meadows and along the edges of woods
Widely distributed across Britain
Recognition
Looks like a Small White when flying, but at rest shows the grey-green stripes along the veins of the underwings
Weak fluttering flight but very mobile, searching large areas for mates and breeding sites
Congregate in large numbers around breeding sites, especially in August; wingspan 5 cm
Lifecycle
Pale eggs laid on crucifers such as Lady's Smock or Garlic Mustard, in May/June and again in August
Well camouflaged dark green caterpillars feed on stems and leaves of foodplants
Later broods over-winter as a chrysalis, hidden in dense vegetation, emerging in early spring
© Geoff Pyman
© Owen Keen
© Tony Gunton