Black-veined white

Aporia crataegi (Linnaeus, 1758)

Status

Description

A largish sized white butterfly with prominent black veins on both upperside and underside, which makes it quite distinctive, and it can’t be confused with any other species. Males and females are similar. 

Habitat Requirements

Given that we have just the one record for this species and that we think that was probably a migrant, we could expect to make the next observation just about anywhere. However, migrating singletons may hill-top to discover mates and this species is know elsewhere in Europe to be a pest of orchards and so locations with large numbers of Prunus spp. fruit trees could also be likely locations for encountering this butterfly.

Larval Foodplants

Crataegus orientalis, Crateaegus heldreichii, Hawthorn Crateagus monogyna, Bird Cherry Prunus avium, Cherry Plum Prunus cerasifera, Almond Prunus dulcis, Peach Prunus persica, Blackthorn Prunus spinosa, Cretan Wild Almond Prunus webbii.

Observations

The only sighting reported to CBC was recorded by Bri Smith who observed the butterfly at 11:09hrs on 17 May 2011. His photo was taken in fields at the side of Alimmatades road, coming from the top of Troumpetas pass. This was probably a migrant.

*The information provided in the tables below is based on verified sightings of the Black-veined white submitted via this website since 1st January 2021.

First and Last Sightings

Year First Last/latest # Days
2022 13/06/2022 13/06/2022 0 days

Number of Observations

Year Number of observations
2023 0
2022 1
2021 0
Grand Total 1

Distribution Map

Distribution maps for this species are currently unavailable.

Flight Times for the Black-veined white (2023)

The chart below shows flight data by month for 2023

Flight Times for the Black-veined white (All Data)

The chart below shows flight data by month since 1st January 2021

Taxonomy

  • Vernacular/Common Name: Black-veined white
  • Family: Pieridae (Swainson, 1820)
  • Sub-family: Pierinae (Swainson, 1820)
  • Tribe: Aporiina (Duponchel, [1835])
  • Genus: Aporia (Hübner, 1819)
  • Species: crataegi (Linnaeus, 1758)

References

For a list of references, please see our bibliography page.