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Large white, Mariposa de la col

Pieris brassicae

Photo by arlanda
Published on Project Noah
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40.5411, -3.68852

Field Notes

Description:

The wings are white, with black tips on the forewings of both males and females, the female also has two black spots on each forewing. The underside is a pale greenish and serves as excellent camouflage when at rest. The black markings are generally darker in the summer brood. Its wingspan is 5 to 6.5 cm.

Habitat:

Pine trees and Holm oak forest, close to a brook with lots of brambles

Notes:

Camera Model: NIKON D300. Exposure Time: 1/1000 sec.; f/16; ISO Speed Rating: 800. Focal Length: 300.0 mm.

Reference Links:

Pieris brassicae

Species ID Suggestions

Green-veined White

Pieris napi

Reference Link
bayucca
1

Comments (12)
arlanda
I agree, bayucca. Thanks for all your help
bayucca
I should have known that... But most people usually forget Napi, which is in some areas more common (!) than the other two. And again, the most common butterflies are sometimes the most difficult ones to ID. OK, if we had some more pictures, I think we would not have needed an expert for that ;-)...
arlanda
Yes bayucca, we finally found a middle point. I am surprised, I never thought it could be so difficult to identify just a large white
bayucca
Cool! We definitely meet in the middle!! We were both wrong!! Hi, hi! But after checking again some Brassicae, hmm, I think we better believe your expert...
arlanda
After consulting a local expert I changed the ID to Pieris brassicae
arlanda
Still in the middle, bayucca
bayucca
Are we now right or left from the middle??
bayucca
I am not sure about Pieris rapae ... so maybe we meet in the middle ;-)...
arlanda
I am not sure about Pieris napi ...
arlanda
Thanks bayucca, I agree with you, maybe I should leave it as Pieris sp. I am waiting for the answer of a friend expert, but did not get answer yet. I chased the butterfly for a log while but this picture is the only one I could get, it was quite difficult to get close to it and I only could get it like this. It always open the wings when resting
bayucca
Do you have a picture of the underside??
bayucca
Did you check Pieris napi, Green-veined White?? I am sceptic about Pieris rapae. Please, check the shape and extension of the black apical patch. Pieris rapae should be more rectangular. Both have "spotless" forms and a great variability within the species (and generation, however, this should also in Spain be the first generation!). http://www.lepiforum.de/lepidopterenforum/lepiwiki/pics/markus_schwibinger/napi_pieris_oberbayern_eching_1985_05_m.jpg

Spotted for Missions

Mission
Butterflies & Moths of the World
Mission
European Butterflies and Moths
Mission
Biodiversidad en España/Spain

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Photographed
PublishedApril 30, 2013

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