Wild Wednesday - Large white butterfly | Latest news

 The large white butterfly is one of two species (the other being the small white) also known as the ‘Cabbage White’ which you may have heard of - it’s one of our most widespread butterflies. Its scientific name is Pieris brassicae.

It has bright white wings, with small black tips to the forewings and one or two wing spots. The small and large are similar but the larger, has a bigger spot in the tip of the forewing that extends down the wing's edge. The female is distinguished from the male by the presence of two black spots, together with a black dash, on the upper side of the forewing. 

This butterfly can be an annoyance to those who are growing cabbages in gardens, allotments and on farmland, as the larva can reach pest proportions, and decimate cabbages – and hence the name, cabbage white.

Found anywhere in the UK, with adults flying between April and October. There has been a slight decline in numbers but is not a species of conservation concern. The large white has a powerful flight and can travel over large distances and is known to migrate to the British Isles from the continent, which increases the resident population in the process. 

This butterfly normally has two broods each year, sometimes three. The first brood emerges in April, with a peak in May. The offspring usually emerge in July and fly through August and into early September.

Yellow skittle-shaped eggs in groups of 40 to 100 are laid on both surfaces of a leaf, such as cabbages, mustard, turnips, and cress, at a rate of four each minute. One female can lay up to 600 eggs, which hatch after about a week, depending on the temperature.

The larva eats its eggshell on hatching and feeds alongside its siblings until it is fully grown. The larvae produce poisonous oils in their bodies when they feed, which keeps away would-be predators. The larvae of the large white prefer to feed on the outer leaves of the foodplant, with the small white preferring to feed on leaves closer to the heart of the foodplant. 

The process from egg to adult it takes approximately 30 days - adult butterflies’ mate, lay eggs, and with the right nutrition, will live for up to three weeks. 

White butterflies are a symbol of purity and healing—both physically and spiritually. Some believe the appearance of a white butterfly to be a sign from deceased loved ones.

Read more here: Large white | The Wildlife Trusts