Butterfly Conservation Warwickshire - Saving butterflies, moths and their habitats in Warwickshire

A ####. © ### - 2021 ###..

Orange-tip Family Pieridae Small White

Large White

Pieris brassicae (58.006)

The Large White is our largest 'white' butterfly. It is not always a welcome visitor to gardens and allotments due to the damage inflicted on brassica crops by the larvae which are capable of completely devouring a crop of cabbages. Over recent years, the use of pesticides has affected its numbers quite dramatically and it is rarely seen in large numbers today.

Habitat Requirements

A very mobile and migrant species which may be found in any location. Most adults are to be found close to breeding areas where brassica crops or wild brassica species grow.

Larval Foodplants

The larvae of the Large White feed on the leaves of Cruciferae (Mustard) family including cultivated Cabbages etc, Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and Mignonette (Reseda lutea).

Flight Period

The Large White is on the wing between the end of April to end of June and mid July to October although numbers fall rapidly by mid September.

First and Latest/Last Sighting 2021

	Date	#	Location	Recorder
First	04-04-21	1	Pebworth	Richard Lamb
Latest	15-09-21	1	Red ln Little Kineton	Mike Slater

Click to view first sightings data from 2007 to 2021

04-04-2021 by Richard Lamb at Pebworth.

24-03-2020 by Eleanor Sutton at Black Bank Meadows.

29-03-2019 by Jeff Jordan at Watling Street, Nuneaton.

13-03-2018 by Jo And Pete Hamer at Fen End.

15-03-2017 by Ann Hand at Bidford on Avon.

08-04-2016 by Dorothy Angela Newhouse at Lilbourne.

06-04-2015 by Paul Nicholas at Hillmorton.

08-04-2014 by Mary Lindsey at Alcester.

03-04-2013 by Diane Slater via Mike Slater at 3 Horseshoes Pub, Dunchurch..

27-03-2012 by Ben Coleman at Ryton Pools Country Park.

19-03-2011 by Andy Barnsley at Mancetter.

08-04-2010 by Steve Batt at Stoke Floods.

21-03-2009 by Glyn Clarke at Stockton.

22-04-2008 by Paul Nicholas at Hillmorton, Rugby.

12-04-2007 by Paul Nicholas at Hillmorton, Rugby.

*First sighting dates for the Large White are based on records submitted online only. These dates are not updated retrospectively to include records submitted to the branch recorder in other forms.