Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Butterfly and Moth Society
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Subfamily: | Pierinae |
| Genus: | Pieris |
| Species: | brassicae |
| Authority: | (Linnaeus, 1758) |
The Large White is one of two species (the other being the Small White) that can claim the title of "Cabbage White" that is the bane of allotment holders all over the British Isles. The larva of this species can reach pest proportions, and decimate cabbages to the point that they become mere skeletons of their former selves. The female is distinguished from the male by the presence of 2 black spots, together with a black dash, on the forewing upperside. This is one of the most widespread species found in the British Isles and can be found almost anywhere, including Orkney and Shetland. This species is also known to migrate to the British Isles from the continent, augmenting the resident population in the process.
| #Individuals | #Tetrads | 2022 | 2023 | Abundance Trend | 2022 | 2023 | Distribution Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16949 | 30159 | +77% | 760 | 881 | +15% |
| #Records | #Individuals | Earliest Record | Latest Record | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Records | 127,237 | 330,566 | 20/01/2020 | 07/12/2012 |
| 2023 | 11,700 | 30,159 | 2/4/2023 | 7/11/2023 |
| Location | Date | Quantity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Earliest Record | Martin Down (South) transect: Section 5 | 2/4/2023 | 1 |
| Latest Record | Godshill | 7/11/2023 | 9 |
| Highest Count | Stockbridge Down | 20/7/2023 | 55 |
One of the issues with 'raw' trend data is that there is inherent bias based on the number of recorders. For example, the number of individuals and populated tetrads recorded are likely to increase if there is an increase in the number of recorders. In order to remove this bias, the normalised trends use data that has been recalculated using the average number of recorders over the trend period. This normalisation gives a much better picture of the true trends.
Average #Recorders: 915.44
Average #Recorders: 915.44