Black Veined White, A. crataegi
Forewing cell pure white, veins lined black
Clouded Apollo, Parnassius mnemosyne
Forewing cell with two large black spots
Black Veined
White Aporia crataegi
Distribution: Across all of Europe but absent from northern
Scandinavia and now extinct in the UK where once it was present across much of
the south. It is also in low numbers on some Mediterranean Islands, particularly
in the east. North Africa.
Identification: Distinctive. It is the only large white butterfly with
all the veins lined black and lacks any other marks. Only the Clouded Apollo,
Parnassius mnemosyne, is similar but this
has two large black spots on the forewing. See illustration above.
Flight time: May to July.
Habitat: Meadows with scrub or cultivated areas with fruit trees.
Larvae feed on various fruit tree species (Prunus) and Blackthorn plus
Hawthorns (Crataegus) and a few other bushes.
Behaviour: Often found fighting each other for available space on
suitable nectar plants - sometimes this appears to be rather violent, but I'm
sure injuries are not possible. Can also be found roosting communally,
particularly in open places where suitable low plants can host over half a dozen
butterflies.
Additional notes: This butterfly was once common in southern England.
Suddenly it disappeared completely and hasn't been seen since the early 1900s.
The reason for this decline has never been fully explained. Sporadic sightings
in the southern counties may herald a gradual return.
In the Pelopennesos, Greece, it was abundant in June. The numbers there were spectacular. One morning
before the cloud cleared we found hundreds settled in groups of upto 8
on one grass stem. Once on the wing their large white forms are very
conspicuous against the green herbage and the area seemed to become
alive with them.
Valais,
Switzerland, June 2009
Pyrénées
Orientales, France, May 2006
Chalkidiki,
Greece, May 2004
Isère, France,
July 2008
Chalkidiki,
Greece, May 2004
Cote d'Or,
France, June 2005
Cote d'Or,
France, June 2005
Cote d'Or,
France, June 2005
Geneva,
Switzerland, June 2005
Geneva,
Switzerland, June 2005
Cote d'Or,
France, June 2005
NW Greece,
July 2004
Shiny
wings indicate an aging butterfly.
Piedmont,
Italy, June 2004
Butterflies fighting on a flower head - a common sight when numbers are
high.