Back to Sussex Butterfly Report 2004 Index

2004 : The Whites

The Wood White was recorded from 9 squares - 4 more than the previous year. Margaret Hibbard’s records clearly show that there are two broods, one peaking at the end of May, the other at the end of July. This species may be spreading south from the Surrey border.

The Clouded Yellow was recorded from 72 squares - 25 less than the previous year. Sightings started in early June, peaked in early August and continued until early October. Generally seen in ones and twos.

The Brimstone was recorded from 183 squares - 26 more than the previous year. Compared with 2003, it was present in 90 new squares but unrecorded from 40 old squares. Wintered specimens appeared in mid March, dying out at the end of June. The new brood appeared at the start of July and flew until the end of September. Widely distributed.

The ubiquitous Large White was recorded from 233 squares. A weak first brood peaked in mid-May and a strong second brood peaked from mid-June to mid-August.

The Small White was recorded from 255 squares. Compared with 2003, it was present in 118 new squares but unrecorded from 53 old squares. The first brood started in early April and ended in late June. The much stronger second brood flew from the beginning of July to the end of October.

The Green Veined White was recorded from 158 squares. Compared with 2003, it was present in 97 new squares but unrecorded from 35 old squares. The first brood ran from mid April to late June, followed almost at once by the second brood which lasted to mid-September.

The Orange Tip was recorded from 148 squares. This harbinger of spring flew throughout the counties from mid-April to the end of May. Compared with 2003, it was present in 103 new squares.