On the other hand, it is just possible that on account of its close resemblance to the Green-Veined White when on the wing, it is often passed over when mixed up with and flying amongst a number of that species.
The sexes are easily distinguished by the female having the upper side of the hind-wings broadly checkered with a double band of black spots, which is entirely wanting in the male. The under side, however, of both sexes is beautifully marbled in dark green on a creamy white ground. The caterpillar is a dull green with yellow lines on back and sides, and may be fed on cabbage or Dyer’s Rocket. The chrysalis is very similar to that of the Small Garden White.
The butterfly may be met with in May and June, and again in August and September.
The Orange-Tip Butterfly (Euchloë Cardamines), [Plate I.], Fig. 7.—This is the only member of its genus inhabiting this country, though there are several others met with on the Continent. It has a wide range in Britain and may be met with from Aberdeenshire to the south coast of England, although it appears to be becoming scarcer and more local in the northern half of the kingdom. The ground colour of the upper side of the wings is white, with a large orange patch occupying almost the outer half of the fore-wing, relieved by a black tip and a black spot. In the female these black marks are larger, but the orange is entirely wanting. The under side of the fore-wing is like the upper, but the under side of the hind-wing is beautifully marbled in dark green, an effect obtained by the commingling of black scales on a yellow ground.
The caterpillar is green, with a white line on the sides, and feeds on various species of Cardamine; hence meadow-lands are its favourite resorts, and there the curious sharp-looking little chrysalis may be found hung up to some dead stem during winter.
The butterfly appears in early June and does not generally survive that month.
The Wood White Butterfly (Leucophasia sinapis), [Plate I.], Fig. 8.—This is the smallest and most fragile of our white butterflies. The wings are white with a black tip on the fore-wing, and the under side of the hind-wing clouded with black scales. The body is long, slender, and a little flattened laterally. It is not a common species, and is very local where it does occur. It has been found as far north as the Lake District, and down to the south coast. It is unrecorded for Scotland, but has been taken in Ireland.
The caterpillar is green, with yellow lines on the sides; it feeds on various members of the pea family—Vetch, Trefoil, etc. It appears on the wing in May, and sometimes a second brood occurs in August; so you may look for the caterpillar in June and again in September.
The Pale Clouded Yellow Butterfly (Colias Hyale), [Plate I.], Fig. 9.—I think there can be little doubt that this fine butterfly is on the increase with us; from all over the southern counties come records of its comparative plenty. In the Entomologist (October, 1911) I read of over one hundred being seen or captured by various collectors. Norfolk, Suffolk, Essex, Kent, Bucks, are amongst the favoured places, and Lucerne- or Clover-fields are the attractions.