Search Results for: Small White

A white butterfly with some black markings on a yellow flower

Small White. Photo: Brian Arnold

A white butterfly with some black markings on a yellow flower

Green-veined White. Photo: Brian Arnold

Brian set in these photos of two often confused species with the following comments: 

On 09/09/2024 we saw all 3 of the so-called “Cabbage Whites” in our garden at Harman’s Cross – Large White, Small White and Green-veined White. These 2 photos show just how similar the Small White (top photo) and Green-veined White (bottom photo) can look when the sun is not shining through their wings.  The veins on the Green-veined White show up far more when the sun is shining through from the underside.

A yellowish white butterfly with black markings on a blue flower

Small White. Photo: Mark Pike

A yellowish white butterfly on a purrple flower

Small White. Photo: Mark Pike

Two photos from Mark sent in telling us:

Suspect these will be last shots I send in 2024 (worst for 20 odd years for me) as I turn my attention now to fungi.  There have been quite a few Small Whites around over the last few days in my area, these two were taken in the front garden at Motcombe this afternoon, 03/09/2024

A yellowish white butterfly with some black markings on a purple flower

Small White. Photo: Donald Simcock

A brown and orange butterfly with some white and black markings on a purple flower

Meadow Brown. Photo: Donald Simcock

Donald sent in these two photos he took a few days ago telling us:

Last week we had a warm day with eight species of butterfly in our Bournemouth garden including a first for us, a Small Skipper that came to sip nectar from our Verbena Bonariensis. Others on the same plant included Meadow Brown, Small White and Gatekeeper, a real festival of butterflies at last.

A white butterfly with some black markings on a green leaf

Small White. Photo: Paul Cobb

Paul sent in this photo of a Small White he saw at Branksome Beach Gardens yesterday, 03/03/2024.

Editor’s Note:  this may well be the first sighting of a Small White reported to Dorset BC this year – last year the first sighting of one notified to us was on 14/03/2023.

Three caterpillars, one green and the other two a greenish yellow and black, all on a green leaf

Large and Small White Caterpillars. Photo: Gary Holderness

Greenish yellow and black caterpillars on the green leaves of Nasturtium plants in a glass tank

Large White Caterpillars on the leaves of Nasturtium Plants. Photo: Gary Holderness

Gary sent in these two photos he took on 11/08/2023 with the following comments:

It has been a good summer for Large White, Small White and Red Admirals in my Ferndown garden. Unfortunately, the Red Admirals didn’t lay any eggs in the nettle patch at the bottom of the garden, they’ve been more interested in the Buddleia.

But the Large and Small Whites have laid hundreds and hundreds of eggs on my many potted Nasturtiums.  Most caterpillars have been taken away by wasps or presumably parasitised but I’ve saved quite a few by putting a few potted plants into an old glass tank. 

It’s been great fun watching the caterpillars develop and each morning there’s always been some butterflies ready for release.  Not the most ” celebrated” of our butterflies but it’s great fun to do.

Editor’s Note:  Most of the caterpillars in the glass tank are on plants in the front part of the tank

 

A five picture sequence of a white butterfly in flight

Small White in flight. Photos: Roger Peart

It’s fascinating to see how a butterfly’s wings actually work. Well done to Roger Peart for capturing this sequence in his Merley garden on 25 July.

White butterfly with black at the top of its foreweing and going down the side.

Large White. Photo: Roger Peart

White butterfly with faint black marks at the top of its wings and two black spots on its forewings

Small White. Photo: Roger Peart

These were seen by Roger in his Merley garden on 25 July.

Large and Small Whites aren’t that easy to tell apart by size, but a good first thing to look for is the amount of black on the top wings. The black mark on the Large White goes down the side of the wing, while the Small White just has a dash across the top. There may or may not be black spots, as markings can vary between the first and second broods. If you want to sort it out look at our species pages where there is lots of advice and photos.