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Pieris brassicae
The larger of the two 'cabbage white' butterflies, it is a relatively common garden visitor. Whilst most Large Whites are indeed quite a lot larger than Small Whites, that is not always true. The best ID feature is the amount of grey or black at the tip of the forewings. If there is extensive black then we are looking at a Large White.
The first adults typically emerge in the second half of March and the first brood remains “on the wing”, well into June. The more numerous second brood flies from July to September. In high summer, our resident Large White butterflies are often supplemented by large numbers of migrants from Europe. In some years there may be a small third brood, in late autumn.
This species can be seen anywhere in Sussex. It is a common visitor to vegetable gardens and allotments, anywhere Brassicas are grown. These butterflies also visit gardens to nectar on flowerheads and they are especially fond of Field Scabious and Devilsbit Scabious.
Female Large White nectaring on Verbena Bonariensis – photo by Martin Kalaher
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Nectaring on Honesty
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Nectaring on Greater Knapweed
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Nectaring on Field Scabious
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Nectaring on Greater Knapweed
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Nectaring on Michaelmas Daisy
Butterfly Conservation Large White
