Wood White

National Status: Scattered distribution in England and Wales mainly in southern and central England, range contracting. Possibly less than 40 colonies remaining.
Population trend 10 years -18%; since 1976 -88%.
West Midlands Status: Local in Herefordshire and Shropshire. Lost from Worcestershire in the last 10 years but reintroduced in 2016 as part of the Making a Stand of Wood White Project. Overall range contraction but recent range expansion in Shropshire. Population trend 10 years – decreasing. Hotspots: Haugh Wood and Wigmore Rolls in Herefordshire and Bury Ditches in Shropshire. Mortimer Forest, and the Doward.
Habitat: Mainly a butterfly of woodland rides. Flight Period: Early May (sometimes late April) to early July and late July to late August. Double brooded but numbers fluctuate greatly from season to season.
Wingspan 42 mm.

Caterpillar Foodplant: The main foodplants are Common Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Greater Bird’s-foot-trefoil (Lotus pedunculatus), Meadow Vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis) and Tufted Vetch (Vicia cracca) and Bitter Vetch (Lathyrus linifolius)