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2005 : Whites

Margaret Hibbard’s records show that both the first and second broods of Wood White were weak during 2005 and the limit of the southern distribution appears to be fixed around SU9727 (Ebernoe). As recording has intensified after 2003, the double-brooded character of this species in Sussex can be clearly seen.

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The Clouded Yellow is an immigrant species capable of breeding in Britain during the warmer months. Nationally, and clearly reflected in Sussex also, 2000 was a very good year for Clouded Yellows. Relatively speaking, 2005 was a poor year although a few specimens were seen as late as early November. On the other hand Barry Collins encountered large numbers in a single field of Lucerne.

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The Brimstone was widely encountered throughout the county. Although individuals were seen in January and February, emergence from hibernation does not really commence until March continuing into April-May. This being a long-lived species, some of these specimens last into June-July. The new season’s emergence begins in July and August lasting the rest of the season. This pattern, with a break between the old and the new broods, is clearly seen in the Sussex calendar.

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The Large White continues to be one of our commonest butterflies. Spending the winter as a pupa, the first brood peaks in May followed by a second brood peaking in August. Without any clear definition between these broods, their presence is nevertheless clearly apparent in the Sussex data.

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The Small White is also common and like its larger relative, spends the winter as a pupa. As our data clearly demonstrates, two broods occur the following year but without any clear demarcation between the spring brood and the summer brood. It is unlikely that the relative scarcity of the Small White from East Sussex is due to anything other than under-recording. New squares   Lost squares   Both squares

The Green-veined White may be found almost anywhere in the county but is not well recorded from East Sussex. As with both the Large and Small Whites, this species is also bivoltine with only a few specimens encountered in late June and early July.

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Always a favourite, there is a spring brood of Orange-tips each year with slight evidence of a second brood in July and August.

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