Code

Open wings: It is white with black apex covered in white spots on the forewings. There is also a round spot in the centre of the wings with white veins that go across it. There is a black spot close to the anal angle. The hindwings have black spots to a greater or lesser extent. Their shape is the same as the shape of the outer part of the wings.

Closed wings: The hindwings are green with a long white spot, which is rather curvy and angled, and stretches all over the wings (its appearance depends on the butterfly). There are long spots which scatter from the margins to the centre.

Similar species

Orange-tip: When it wings are closed, there are plenty of white spots, and the margins are more irregular. Female butterflies are black at the forewings apex.

Portuguese Dappled White: This species has more yellow colour on it and rounded white spots. There are no long spots on the outer margin.

Western Dappled White: There are white rounded spots and there are no long spots on the outer margin.

Bath White: Long white spots go across the wings. When their wings are stretched, these last four species have no spots on their hindwings nor do they have a spot close to the anal angle on the forewings.

Biology and Habitat

There are several generations of the species that fly at the same time throughout the year. The number of butterflies that belong to autumn generation, depends on the rainfall at the end of summer. This species lives in all kinds of open-air habitats, from high mountains to urban areas parks and gardens. Its caterpillars feed on, for example, some cruciferous Biscutella spp., Hirscfeldia incana, and Lobularia marítima, or Reseda alba.

Distribution in the Great Path

It can be found all over the path, but it is rarer the case of coastal areas and in the north of the province, where it can be found at limited number of places.