 | Butterfly Conservation Saving butterflies, moths and our environment | Upper Thames Branch |  |
Wood White (Leptidea sinapis) | |||||||||
| Description | |||||||||
| Wing span: 40-42 mm. The most delicate of the white butterflies, the Wood White has suffered due to changes in woodland management, particularly the reduction in coppicing. It always rests with its wings closed. The sexes are similar. Most of the populations in Britain are in the Midlands, central southern and south-west England, and south Wales. Most colonies breed on rides and clearings in woods, although a few large colonies occur on coastal undercliffs. | |||||||||
| Images (click to enlarge) | |||||||||
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| Life Cycle | |||||||||
| There are usually two broods per year, with adults being on the wing from mid-May to July, and again in August. The pupa is the over-wintering stage. | |||||||||
| Larval Foodplants | |||||||||
| The primary larval foodplants are Common Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Greater Bird's-foot Trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), Bitter Vetch (Vicia ervilia), Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca) and Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis). | |||||||||
| Nectar Sources | |||||||||
| Nectar sources include a variety of flowers, favourites being Bramble, Bugle, Ragged Robin and Birds-foot Trefoil. | |||||||||
| UK Conservation Status | |||||||||
| Endangered | |||||||||
| Earliest UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 20th April | |||||||||
| Mean UTB first sighting (since 2004) : 13th May | |||||||||
| Species Champion | |||||||||
| Nick Board Email: wood-white@upperthames-butterflies.upperthames-butterflies.org.uk | |||||||||
| Reports | |||||||||
| Distribution and Sites | |||||||||
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| Related Species | |||||||||
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1 sighting 
2-9 max seen 
10+ max seenCopyright © Butterfly Conservation Upper Thames Branch 2025
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Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP, Tel: 01929 400 209
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Privacy and Copyright Statement
Butterfly Conservation : Company limited by guarantee, registered in England (2206468)
Registered Office: Manor Yard, East Lulworth, Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5QP, Tel: 01929 400 209
Charity registered in England & Wales (254937) and in Scotland (SCO39268)