Green-veined White

Pieris napi

Species ID / Green-veined White
Vlad Proklov
Miles Attenborough
Tamás Nestor
Iain H Leach
Peter Eeles
Peter Eeles

Identification Tip

As the name suggests, these butterflies have green-grey veins on the underside of their wings, which make them distinct from other white butterflies.

What do they eat?

Caterpillars munch on a variety of plants, mostly those with a mustardy flavour such as:

  • Garlic Mustard
  • Cuckooflower
  • Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus)

Adults take nectar from a range of flowers including:

  • Bluebell
  • Bugle
  • Cuckooflower
  • Red Clover
  • Thistles

Where does it spend the winter?

Green-veined Whites spend the winter as chrysalises, usually attached to plant stem and low to the ground, though occasionally stuck to a tree trunk or a fence.

Ideas to help Green-veined White in your Wild Space

Butterfly-friendly plants for hanging baskets

Superstar plants for any Wild Space

Size

small
medium
large

Flying Season

April - September

Life Cycle

Adult

April, May, June, July, August, September

Egg

May, June, August, September

Caterpillar

May, June, July, August, September

Chrysallis

January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December

UK Distribution

Want to learn

more?

There is even more about this species on the main Butterfly Conservation website

Fun Facts
about the Green-veined White

After mating, male Green-veined Whites release a pheromone (scent) onto the female which makes her less attractive to other males.