Green-veined White

A Green-veined White butterfly settles on a flowering plant at Howe o’ Buchan, Peterhead, Scotland.

May 24, 2026 - 06:44

Image: Adrian Breeman/Press and Journal.

Pieris napi

The wings are white, with prominent greenish veins on the hind wing. The upper wings have one or more spots. The Small White is similar but lacks the green veins.

Size and Family

Family: Whites and yellows
Size: Medium
Wing Span Range (male to female): 50mm

Conservation Status

GB Red List (2022): Least Concern
Butterfly Conservation priority: Low
European status: Not threatened

Caterpillar Foodplants

A range of wild crucifers is used: Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) Water- cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum), Charlock (Sinapis arvensis), Large Bitter-cress (C. amara), Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), and Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum). Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and cultivated crucifers are used occasionally.

Lifecycle

Habitat

This common butterfly prefers damp areas with lush vegetation, where its foodplant is found. It usually occurs in hedgerows, ditches, banks of rivers, lakes and ponds, damp meadows, moorland and woodland rides and edges. The butterfly can also be found in gardens but favours damp areas.