• National Status: Range expanding nationally. Population trend 10 years +59%; since 1976 +10%.
• West Midlands Status: Widespread, found in all areas, range stable. Population trend 10 years – increasing.

• Hotspots: Melrose Farm and Hollybed Farm in Worcestershire. Sites: Grafton Wood, Portway Hill, Woodgate Valley.

• Habitat: Various grassy areas such as meadows, hedgerows, wood edges and gardens. Butterflies roam widely seeking out foodplants.

• Flight Period: One generation per year, with the males appearing first in late March in a warm spring. The flight period is over by mid-June with May the best time to see this species.

• Wingspan 40–52 mm.

Caterpillar Food Plant – The main foodplants are Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) and Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). Charlock (Sinapis arvensis), Hairy Rock-cress (Arabis hirsuta), Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale), Large Bitter-cress (Cardamine amara), Turnip (Brassica rapa) and Winter-cress (Barbarea vulgaris) are also used

Life Cycle:

• The Charts show the distribution over the last 5 years – Complete Coverage 2020 to 2025
• The Population Trend from Transect Records Considered stable
• Phenology from Casual Records1

Members Photographs