We see four butterflies from this group on the Wildlife Site: Large White (Pieris brassicae), Green-veined White (Artogeia napi), Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) and Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni).
The Large White is occasionally seen, most often in the garden and orchard at Downlee Lodge, at any time from April to September.
The smaller Green-veined White and Orange Tip are seen in summertime, sometimes in large numbers in the wet fields Field 3, Field 4 and Field 6 and in the wildflower meadow at Downlee Lodge.
The Orange Tip is seen on the wildlife site from April to July. Only the male has bright orange wing tips. The female has black tips on the white upper side of its wings and the underside of the wings is mottled white and green in both sexes. Its first appearance in spring always coincides with Cuckoo Flowers blooming in the wetter areas of the wildlife site, most noticeably In Field 6.
The Brimstone is said to be a common species that flies from February to November. This rather leaflike shaped butterfly has been seen only rarely in the garden and orchard at Downlee Lodge. The male is striking yellow but the female is paler, nearly white. Several bushes of its food plant Alder Buckthorn (Frangula alnus) have been planted in the wooded field corners, W1 and W3 on the Map, but so far (up to 2021) we have not seen any Brimstone caterpillars there.
Photographs of Whites and Yellows
Click on the photograph for larger images and captions.
Further Information
For further information on the species in this group, please click the links below:
Large White Green-veined White Orange Tip Brimstone
