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Complex Leptidea sinapis. Wood White Skogsvitvinge, Virnaperhonen
Wing span
Medium-sized, 35–44 mm (1.38–1.73 in.).
Wing upper side
White, forewing tip grey (female) or black (male).
Wing underside
Light yellow, green and grey patches.
Habitat
Forest edges and clearings.
Flying time
Early May–late June. Second generation possible (July–August).
Overwintering form
Cocoon.
Larval foodplant
Meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis), tufted vetch (Vicia cracca) and possibly also other Pea family (Fabaceae) plants.
There are three subfamilies of the Whites and yellows (Pieridae) in Finland. The Mimic sulphurs (Dismorphiinae) contains two species, the better known of which is wood white. The two other Pieridae subfamilies are the Whites (Pierinae) and the Sulphurs (Coliadinae).
The wood white is common in southern and central Finland and can be found here and there in Lapland. It usually rests with its wings against each other, so the upper surface is difficult to study without taking the butterfly in one’s hands. Its long, round-tipped wings and slow, fluttering flying style are characteristic properties of the species. The males fly around looking for females. Females lay their eggs one by one among the leaves that will be the caterpillar’s foodplant. The species is very difficult to differentiate from its close relative, the cryptic wood white. Naturegate Luontoportti
Complex Leptidea sinapis. Wood White Skogsvitvinge, Virnaperhonen
Wing span
Medium-sized, 35–44 mm (1.38–1.73 in.).
Wing upper side
White, forewing tip grey (female) or black (male).
Wing underside
Light yellow, green and grey patches.
Habitat
Forest edges and clearings.
Flying time
Early May–late June. Second generation possible (July–August).
Overwintering form
Cocoon.
Larval foodplant
Meadow vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis), tufted vetch (Vicia cracca) and possibly also other Pea family (Fabaceae) plants.
There are three subfamilies of the Whites and yellows (Pieridae) in Finland. The Mimic sulphurs (Dismorphiinae) contains two species, the better known of which is wood white. The two other Pieridae subfamilies are the Whites (Pierinae) and the Sulphurs (Coliadinae).
The wood white is common in southern and central Finland and can be found here and there in Lapland. It usually rests with its wings against each other, so the upper surface is difficult to study without taking the butterfly in one’s hands. Its long, round-tipped wings and slow, fluttering flying style are characteristic properties of the species. The males fly around looking for females. Females lay their eggs one by one among the leaves that will be the caterpillar’s foodplant. The species is very difficult to differentiate from its close relative, the cryptic wood white. Naturegate Luontoportti