Description The larvae of the Green-viened White are green in colour and covered with short hairs similar to the larvae of the Small White. It does not feed on cultivated crucifers and is not a pest of cabbage crops.
Adults can be seen on the wing from early April until September. There are two broods individuals from the first brood are smaller than the second brood. Females are generally more heavily patterned than the males having larger/darker and more black patches on the upper forewings but both sexes are very variable depending upon location and season.
Habitat A very adaptable butterfly occurring in almost all localities and one of the world's most successful butterflies. The Green-veined White prefers hedgerows and river banks with lush vegetation in sheltered damp locations where the larval food plant and abundant nectar sources such as dandelion can be found.
Larval Food Plants The larvae of the Green-veied White will feed on a variety of plants including Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale) Charlock (Sinapis arvensis) Water-cress (Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum) Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Wild Radish (Raphanus raphanistrum), Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) and Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis).