58.007 Pieris rapae (Small White)
ws: 38-57mm; bivoltine late Apr-Jun, Jul-Sep; various Brassicaceae; common throughout GB
Pieris rapae (Small White) §3 female
ID: Both sexes have a grey forewing apical mark. The male has a mid forewing black spot; the female has two prominent black spots and a grey dash of variable prominence along the middle of the dorsum. The markings of the second generation are darker and more prominent than those of the first generation. P.brassicae (Large White) is larger (ws 58-63mm) but otherwise similar - the male lacks the midwing black spot and in both sexes the apical black mark extends almost as far along the termen as it does along the costa (in P.rapae it extends only a short distance along the termen).
§1 Foulness, Essex; 23/07/2006; female; 2nd generation
§2 Foulness, Essex; 19/05/2007; male; 1st generation
§3 Foulness, Essex; 01/07/2007; female; 2nd generation
§4 Foulness, Essex; 03/05/2014; male; 1st generation
§5 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 12/04/2017; male; fw 21.3mm; 1st generation
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 11/04/2020; female; fw 25.5mm; 1st generation
All images © Chris Lewis
§2 Foulness, Essex; 19/05/2007; male; 1st generation
§3 Foulness, Essex; 01/07/2007; female; 2nd generation
§4 Foulness, Essex; 03/05/2014; male; 1st generation
§5 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 12/04/2017; male; fw 21.3mm; 1st generation
§6 Westcliff-on-sea, Essex; 11/04/2020; female; fw 25.5mm; 1st generation
All images © Chris Lewis
Page published 07/04/2014 (§1-3) | §4 (male genitalia) added 28/07/2014 | §5 added 02/04/2018 | §6 added 15/04/2020
