This is a fairly large butterfly, easily recognised by the black veining on a white background, with no spots. The female has a slightly softer brown colour to the veins. Groups can be found feeding on flowers near to their caterpillar food plants of hawthorns and also around orchards of Prunus species.

The caterpillars of this species can grow up to 4cm long, they are black with orange spots and a white horizontal line above the legs, covered with many white hairs. The caterpillars of this species survive over winter within the protection of woven nests.

Family: Pieridae
Scientific name: Aporia crataegi
English common name: Black-veined White
Spanish common name: Blanca del Majuelo
Portuguese common name: Borboleta do pilriteiro

Wing size: 56-68mm
Altitude: 500-2000m
Flight time: April-July
Over-wintering: Young caterpillars in a communal woven nest
Caterpillar food plant: Crataegus, Prunus, Malus, Pyrus, Sorbus
Distribution: Widespread through most of Europe

Similar species: Clouded Apollo (Parnassius mnemosyne) but this species has two large black spots on the forewing.

Butterflies of Iberia
These are included in the list of butterflies in Andalusia.
Images taken in Andalucia, Southern Spain.

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