# Green-veined White (*Pieris napi*) The Green-veined White is a lovely butterfly with white wings and green veins. They flutter around gardens and fields, bringing joy to everyone who sees them! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Grasslands - **Also known as:** Green-veined White Butterfly ![Green-veined White](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Pieris_napi_napi_-_Foret_de_Bouconne%252C_France_-_female.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%28MHNT%29_Pieris_napi_napi_-_Foret_de_Bouconne%252C_France_-_female.jpg) ## Appearance The Green-veined White has pure white wings with distinctive gray-green veins visible on the underside, especially on the hindwings. Its forewings often show faint dark markings near the tips, differentiating it from other white butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Pieridae - **Genus:** Pieris ## Interesting facts - A Green-veined White can lay hundreds of tiny eggs, usually one by one, on host plants. - Some Green-veined Whites migrate short distances to find new homes and food sources! - These butterflies can tell the difference between plants just by tapping their feet! - They often flutter in a zig-zag pattern, making it tricky for birds to catch them mid-air. ## Special abilities - **Master of Disguise:** Green-veined White has pale green veins on its underwings that help them blend seamlessly into leafy vegetation, avoiding hungry predators. - **Nectar Feeder:** Green-veined White can unroll its long proboscis to sip sweet nectar from deep inside flowers, getting energy to fly. - **Chemical Defense:** Green-veined White caterpillars eat mustard plants that contain bitter chemicals, making them less tasty to birds. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 32-50 mm - **Size:** 18-25 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-21 days - **Flight Speed:** 12 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults drink flower nectar, while caterpillars munch on plants. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat plant leaves, but adults sip nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** nectar, garlic mustard leaves, watercress leaves, lady's smock leaves - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Depends on:** [Garlic Mustard](https://www.snappit.app/explore/garlic-mustard) (*Alliaria petiolata*) — Larvae feed on its leaves. - **Pollinates:** [Dandelion](https://www.snappit.app/explore/dandelion) (*Taraxacum officinale*) — Adults visit its flowers for nectar. - **Eaten by:** [Great Tit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-tit) (*Parus major*) — Birds prey on adult butterflies. - **Eaten by:** Garden Cross Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Spiders often catch them in webs. ## Traits - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Grassland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/grassland): Grassland habitats are terrestrial biomes dominated by grasses and herbaceous plants, supporting a variety of grazing animals. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Butterflies are friendly, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Green-veined White? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Green-veined White's wingspan? 32-50 mm ### How big is Green-veined White? 18-25 mm ### How long does Green-veined White live? 14-21 days ### How fast can Green-veined White fly? 12 km/h ### What does Green-veined White eat? Adults drink flower nectar, while caterpillars munch on plants. ### Where is Green-veined White usually found? Grasslands ### How does Green-veined White hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Picos de Europa National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/picos-de-europa-national-park) — Spain, ES · National Park ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Green-veined White: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/green-veined-white)