Butterflies - Wood White (Leptidea sinapis)
The Wood White is the most delicate of our white butterflies... indeed, anyone who has witnessed its lumbering, weak flight may question how the species ever managed to survive in the modern world!
The males will fly continuously in fine weather searching for a female while the females tend to spend their time feeding on flowers or resting.
Females are all white except for a dusting of grey scales and forewings which are more rounded than the males. The longer, more pointed forewings of the males have a dark grey patch on the upperside. See photograph below.
All Irish Wood Whites formerly considered to be Réal’s Wood White Leptidea reali have now been ascribed to a newly described species known as the the Cryptic Wood White Leptidea juvernica following recent genetic studies. Réal’s Wood White now appears to be confined to southern Europe only. In mainland Britain, the Wood White remains as Leptidea sinapis
- Larval Food Plants
- Habitat
- Status
- Key Sites
- Links
- Photographs
Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis)
Bitter-vetch (Lathyrus linifolius)
Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca)
Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus)
Greater Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus)
The Wood White is usually found in sheltered woodland rides and clearings.
Resident in Warwickshire.
Ryton Wood (WWT Reserve)
Find out more about the Wood White online at the following links;
www.britishbutterflies.co.uk
www.butterfly-conservation.org
www.ukbutterflies.co.uk
A photographic slideshow displaying various images of the Wood White is currently in development.
Details of how you can supply your own photographs for display here will be made available soon.
Flight Chart
The flight chart below is based on observations of the adult Wood White butterfly in Warwickshire between 2005 and 2008. Peak periods are shown in dark green.
Distribution Maps
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| 2011 (1yr) | 2010 (1yr) | 2000-09 (10yr) |
