French name: Le Gazé
The Black-veined white butterfly, Aporia crataegi, was once a common sight across France, but in more recent years it has become scarce particularly in the North and North-East of France. In the UK it is considered to have been extinct since the mid 1920’s.
The black-veined white is a large butterfly with a wingspan of 69-76mm. They can be found feeding on scrubby grassland, along roadside verges and the edges of woodlands where their food plants grow, usually up to elevations of about 1600m. Black-veined white feed on a variety of wildflowers including scabious, vetch, ox-eye daisies and vipers bugloss.
I was lucky enough to film this black-veined white butterfly feeding on vetch close to our home last week.
Black-veined white butterflies are in flight between May and early August. With them becoming more scarce across France, I’d love to know if you’ve seen one, please do leave your comments in the box below.
A bientôt
Katherine x
'Black-veined White Butterfly (Aporia crataegi)' have 6 comments
July 4, 2017 @ 11:52 pm cathysrealcountrygardencom
We see them in the bits of meadow lands in the old orchards here in the Alsace
April 30, 2019 @ 3:59 pm Lesley Quinton - Hoare
Hello
I have just been delighted to see a white veined butterfly on our drive in Les Picots, Amberac 16140, Charente. I have never seen one here before – we have been here 14 years. Thought you might like to know of the location.
Kind regards
Lesley
May 1, 2019 @ 10:53 am Katherine
That’s wonderful, thank you for letting me know. I haven’t seen any yet here this year, but fingers crossed I will, they’re beautiful.
July 16, 2017 @ 2:53 pm daisythebus
Very interesting (and beautiful) butterfly. I don’t know this one, but I’ll keep an eye out for it in Luxembourg. Will let you know if I spot one! #AllAboutFrance
September 13, 2017 @ 6:41 pm Phoebe | Lou Messugo
Such a delicately pretty butterfly, I don’t think I’ve seen one before. Thanks for linking up to #AllAboutFrance
May 14, 2019 @ 6:27 pm NEIL PAYNE
Hi Katherine. I saw one today on the Canal de Bourgogne about 10km north of St-Jean-de-Losne. Hope this helps. I keep a record of butterflies in my blog too. Neil x