# Wood White (*Leptidea sinapis*)

The Wood White is a beautiful butterfly with pale wings that flutter around in sunny spots. They love to sip nectar from flowers and can be seen in gardens and meadows during warm days.

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low
- **Habitat:** Grasslands

![Wood White](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/%28MHNT%29_Leptidea_sinapis_-_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_Leptidea_sinapis_-_Foret_de_Bouconne%252C_France_-_female.jpg)

## Appearance

The Wood White is a delicate, slender butterfly with creamy white wings, subtly tipped with greyish-black on the forewings. Its elongated, narrow wings and hesitant, 'bouncing' flight distinguish it from other white butterflies, making it easy to identify.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Lepidoptera
- **Family:** Pieridae
- **Genus:** Leptidea

## Interesting facts

- Male Wood Whites fly special patrol routes, following paths through woods, searching for females to woo!
- Their 'bouncing' flight pattern is so unique, it helps spotters identify them even from a distance!
- Unlike most butterflies, the Wood White's wings are surprisingly narrow and elongated, almost like a glider!
- Wood White caterpillars often form a tiny silk safety pad before they shed their skin, so they don't fall off!

## Special abilities

- **Dappled Disguise:** Wood White has underwing patterns that help them blend perfectly with dappled sunlight, making them very hard to spot.
- **Nectar Straw:** Wood White can unfurl a long proboscis, a straw-like mouthpart, that helps them sip nectar from deep flowers.
- **Rapid Generations:** Wood White can complete its life cycle quickly, allowing them to have two or even three broods in a single warm season.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 33-47 mm
- **Size:** 15-25 mm
- **Lifespan:** 10-20 days
- **Flight Speed:** 8-15 km/h
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

Wood White butterflies drink flower nectar; caterpillars munch on legume leaves.

- **Age differences:** Larvae eat plant leaves, while adults feed on flower nectar.
- **Primary Foods:** Vetch flowers, Clover flowers, Meadow Vetchling leaves, Bird's-foot Trefoil leaves
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Eaten by:** Blue Tit (*Cyanistes caeruleus*) — Larvae and adults are prey for hungry birds.
- **Pollinates:** [Tufted Vetch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tufted-vetch) (*Vicia cracca*) — Adults visit flowers for nectar, aiding plant reproduction.
- **Depends on:** Meadow Vetchling (*Lathyrus pratensis*) — Caterpillars feed exclusively on its leaves to grow.
- **Hunts:** Garden Cross Spider (*Araneus diadematus*) — Spiders capture adult butterflies in their webs.

## Traits

- [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care.
- [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment.
- [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

Be gentle and quiet around butterflies so they feel safe.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Wood 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 Wood White's wingspan?

33-47 mm

### How big is Wood White?

15-25 mm

### How long does Wood White live?

10-20 days

### How fast can Wood White fly?

8-15 km/h

### What does Wood White eat?

Wood White butterflies drink flower nectar; caterpillars munch on legume leaves.

### Where is Wood White usually found?

Grasslands

### How does Wood White hunt?

Foraging

## 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*)

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Source: [Wood White: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/wood-white)