An optical illusion, in your own back garden
Flitting past a hedgerow, river or even your garden, it’s easy to mistake the surprisingly beautiful Green-veined White for a less elaborately decorated white butterfly.
Delicate veins trace across its yellowish tinted wings, giving them a leaf-like appearance that helps them blend into their surroundings and avoid detection by predators.
The males have a sort of frat boy energy and like to ‘mud-puddle’ – hanging out in groups on wet mud and sometimes animal dung to get nutrients.
Probably just as well, then, that they have scent scales on their wings. They use these like a spritz of Lynx Africa, releasing pheromones to attract a mate.
Green-veined Whites are really common across the whole of the UK but can sometimes be confused with other white butterflies, like the Small White. You might be able to see them in your garden, but they prefer damp areas with plenty of plant life, such as hedgerows, ditches, banks of rivers, lakes and ponds, or woodland.
Vibes
Each butterfly is scored out of 100 across a set of traits, from how bold and visible it is to how far it travels or how particular it is about where it lives. These scores compare each species with the other butterflies in Britain, helping you see their differences at a glance. Here’s what makes the Green-veined White special.
Bright colours, bold patterns, and a love of the spotlight. Some butterflies just can’t help showing off.
Fast, or throwing some seriously impressive moves, these butterflies are in a flutter.
Always on guard, ready to hide or defend - these butterflies have self-preservation down to an art.
It’s ok to be a little… well, weird. These butterflies have been certified with the freak factor.
Like Goldilocks, everything has to be just right for these perfectionists.
Hard to spot and even harder to forget, these butterflies are a true one of a kind.
Bold, curious, and ready to explore, these brave butterflies live for the thrill and aren’t afraid to travel.
Weather-resistant, battle-hardened, and built to survive, these butterflies know how to take it on the wing.
The green veins aren’t green at all. They’re an optical illusion created by yellow, black and grey scales on their wings.
Test your knowledge
Why do Green-veined White males gather on mud or dung?Male Green-veined Whites ‘mud-puddle’ to absorb nutrients from wet soil and animal dung.
