What happened to the Black Veined White?

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Tue Sep 12, 2006 9:32 am

Has anybody ever tried to reintroduce this species? I understand it was once a native? Where's the nearest place to the UK it inhabits? I take it that the UK species was a sub-species all on it's own?

What happened to it? Why is it dead?

Danny

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 8:22 pm

This species is known for the extreme fluctuations in population size and, to be frank, I've not come across any explanation of this. But this was, apparently, the ultimate cause of its demise when the population dipped below a sustainable level.

The nearest place to see this critter is in France, although someone else would have to give you more precise info!

The individuals in the UK were not a separate subspecies. The taxonomy info at

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/taxonomy.php

may help.

If there have been any reintroduction attempts (and there have been several unoffocial attempts) then they've all failed.

Cheers,

- Pete

Matsukaze · Post by **Matsukaze** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:14 pm

I believe that the larvae can be a pest on plum trees, which is one reason why no official attempt has been made to reintroduce it.

Post by **Pete Eeles** » Wed Sep 13, 2006 9:36 pm

That's a good point Matsukaze!

I guess the same goes for Geranium Bronze. I'd love to see an official introduction, but DEFRA might have something to say about that (and many gardeners!).

Cheers,

- Pete

Danny · Post by **Danny** » Thu Sep 14, 2006 9:00 am

I'd be quite happy to sacrifice the plum in order to see the BVW. Just eat apples instead...or apricots....or damsons.

Danny

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Sun Sep 24, 2006 8:04 pm

By all accounts they weren't a serious pest in the UK despite being so in mainland Europe.

Matsukaze · Post by **Matsukaze** » Fri Sep 29, 2006 9:36 pm

The Black-veined White appears to have shared a species of parasitic wasp with the Large White. It would be interested to know if periods of abundance for the Large White (and therefore the wasp) correlate with slumps in population for the Black-veined.