Large White (Early Stages)
- Vince Massimo
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- Location: Crawley, Sussex
Large White (Early Stages)
This is another of my infrequent reports concerning the life-cycle of one of our common species. This time it relates to the Large White, which is the most notorious and prominent of the "Cabbage Whites" (The other being the Small White). Both are well known to gardeners and vegetable growers, but it is the Large White which causes most of the damage to Brassica crops. Garden Nasturtium is also a favoured foodplant for this species. Most people have encountered the conspicuous eggs or larvae, so given this familiarity, I have tried to approach this report from a slightly different angle. This principally involves looking at a wild habitat involving a non-cultivated host plant as well as aiming to obtain new and detailed images that add to existing information. The majority of the early photos were taken in the wild, but several eggs and larvae were collected and taken home in order to continue to monitor and record their development to the pupal and adult stages.
EDIT: This report was updated to include a full pupation sequence and some other fresh images in September 2013 and an emergence sequence in 2014. Additional images of larvae were included in November 2017.
Having failed to attract an egg-laying female to the larval host plants in my home garden, I was very pleased to find lots of Sea-kale (Crambe maritima) growing on a beach whilst holidaying on the Suffolk coast in early September 2011.
This wild Brassica was found growing in abundance along the coast at Dunwich Cliffs, occupying a band of shingle from the base of the sandy cliff to within a few metres of the high water mark. Several Large whites were seen to be investigating these plants. These individuals could either have been migrants or locally hatched. Soon one settled down to lay a batch of eggs. The eggs are usually laid on the underside of a leaf, but also on the upperside if it has a sheltered aspect. The average size of a batch is known to be 40-100 eggs, but those that I found ranged in size from a minimum of 23 to a maximum of 141. On some leaves were also the smaller, single eggs of the Small White. The Large White eggs are initially pale yellow, but gradually darken to orange and then to pale grey just before hatching. Vegetable growers and allotment holders should look away now.................
Upon hatching the larvae consume their eggshells. In most instances all that remains is the circular imprint made by the base of the egg. In the last photo above you can see the imprint left by the bases of the eggs and also a solitary Small White egg. Between 4th and 9th September 2011 I found over 1000 eggs in just a small area together with approximately 800 larvae in all stages of their development.
In this last photo you can clearly see the egg imprints. For the first day the larvae feed on the surface of the leaf close to the hatching site, before moving as a group to a more secluded area of the plant.
Sometimes it may appear that one new hatchling has wandered away from the group. If it has a pale or orange-coloured head it is actually a Small White larva.
Freshly emerged Large White larvae have black heads. They feed and rest together and sometimes build a loose communal shelter within the plant using silken strands. It is not until much later in their development that they gradually disperse and become solitary.
The striking colouration of the late-instar stage is a warning to birds and other preditors that they are distasteful, because of the mustard oils they have absorbed from the plant while feeding. This colouration appeared at the 3rd instar stage (around the 14th day of their development). Fifth instar larvae can be distinguished by the two blue/grey lobes on the sides of their head and a whitish or yellow triangular plate above the mouth. The time between egg hatch and pupation took approximately 6 weeks.
When ready to pupate the larvae leave the plant and may travel some distance to seek out the undersides of solid structures such as building ledges, fences and branches, as well as tree trunks. They will also pupate head-up in a vertical position if there are no horizontal surfaces available.
All the following images of pupae have been rotated for presentation purposes.
The colour patten of the pupa varies according to such factors as light levels at the pupation site and the nature of the background.
Pupae range in colour between pale cream to pale green, through grey/green to grey, usually with speckling.
In the days before the adult emerges, the pupa darkens and the wing colours begin to show strongly through the pupal case. The head and abdominal areas then suddenly darken and the abdominal segments distend indicating that emergence is only a few hours away.
If the temperature was right, most emergences took place between 2am and 8am.
The pupae that were strongly speckled tended to mask the identity of the sex until the very last moment. The previous one was female, and this is clearly a male.
Not unexpectedly there were some losses along the way, mainly at the larval stage, but I was surprised to lose 5 pupae during one night due to predation by a rodent (most likely a mouse or shrew). They were just cleanly plucked from their sites, leaving no trace. Even more of a shock was finding a large spider guarding its latest meal...................
I believe this to be Drassodes lapidotus (Stone Spider or Mouse Spider). Another possibility is Drassodes cupreus (Blackwall Spider). You can see the point where it has injected digestive enzymes into the pupa. These have the effect of liquifying the contents of the pupa, enabling the spider to subsequently suck them up.
The outcome is quite dramatic, but I would not have guessed it was the work of a spider unless I had seen it for myself. This turned out not to be an isolated incident, because I lost another pupa to a similar spider in September 2103. Slugs and snails also predate huge numbers of eggs and many larvae are taken by wasps. Parasitism of eggs and larvae also affects countless individuals, however in 2018 it was unusual to see a Harlequin ladybird also taking an interest in some eggs. It did not eat all of the eggs and I suspect that it was just scavenging from those that had been damaged by previous predators.
However on a happier note........................
My pupae were overwintered in an outbuilding located on the north side of the house which has good light, ventilation and humidity levels. It does not significantly insulate the pupae from low temperatures in winter nor does it warm up readily in the spring. In all cases, overwintered pupae of all species kept in this environment, have hatched after those in the wild. All adults were released at a suitable site as soon as weather conditions would allow.
* NO SPIDERS WERE HARMED DURING THE PRODUCTION OF THIS REPORT
Reading References:
The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland (Thomas and Lewington 2014)
UK Butterflies Website
EDIT: This report was updated to include a full pupation sequence and some other fresh images in September 2013 and an emergence sequence in 2014. Additional images of larvae were included in November 2017.
Having failed to attract an egg-laying female to the larval host plants in my home garden, I was very pleased to find lots of Sea-kale (Crambe maritima) growing on a beach whilst holidaying on the Suffolk coast in early September 2011.
This wild Brassica was found growing in abundance along the coast at Dunwich Cliffs, occupying a band of shingle from the base of the sandy cliff to within a few metres of the high water mark. Several Large whites were seen to be investigating these plants. These individuals could either have been migrants or locally hatched. Soon one settled down to lay a batch of eggs. The eggs are usually laid on the underside of a leaf, but also on the upperside if it has a sheltered aspect. The average size of a batch is known to be 40-100 eggs, but those that I found ranged in size from a minimum of 23 to a maximum of 141. On some leaves were also the smaller, single eggs of the Small White. The Large White eggs are initially pale yellow, but gradually darken to orange and then to pale grey just before hatching. Vegetable growers and allotment holders should look away now.................
Upon hatching the larvae consume their eggshells. In most instances all that remains is the circular imprint made by the base of the egg. In the last photo above you can see the imprint left by the bases of the eggs and also a solitary Small White egg. Between 4th and 9th September 2011 I found over 1000 eggs in just a small area together with approximately 800 larvae in all stages of their development.
In this last photo you can clearly see the egg imprints. For the first day the larvae feed on the surface of the leaf close to the hatching site, before moving as a group to a more secluded area of the plant.
Sometimes it may appear that one new hatchling has wandered away from the group. If it has a pale or orange-coloured head it is actually a Small White larva.
Freshly emerged Large White larvae have black heads. They feed and rest together and sometimes build a loose communal shelter within the plant using silken strands. It is not until much later in their development that they gradually disperse and become solitary.
The striking colouration of the late-instar stage is a warning to birds and other preditors that they are distasteful, because of the mustard oils they have absorbed from the plant while feeding. This colouration appeared at the 3rd instar stage (around the 14th day of their development). Fifth instar larvae can be distinguished by the two blue/grey lobes on the sides of their head and a whitish or yellow triangular plate above the mouth. The time between egg hatch and pupation took approximately 6 weeks.
When ready to pupate the larvae leave the plant and may travel some distance to seek out the undersides of solid structures such as building ledges, fences and branches, as well as tree trunks. They will also pupate head-up in a vertical position if there are no horizontal surfaces available.
All the following images of pupae have been rotated for presentation purposes.
The colour patten of the pupa varies according to such factors as light levels at the pupation site and the nature of the background.
Pupae range in colour between pale cream to pale green, through grey/green to grey, usually with speckling.
In the days before the adult emerges, the pupa darkens and the wing colours begin to show strongly through the pupal case. The head and abdominal areas then suddenly darken and the abdominal segments distend indicating that emergence is only a few hours away.
If the temperature was right, most emergences took place between 2am and 8am.
The pupae that were strongly speckled tended to mask the identity of the sex until the very last moment. The previous one was female, and this is clearly a male.
Not unexpectedly there were some losses along the way, mainly at the larval stage, but I was surprised to lose 5 pupae during one night due to predation by a rodent (most likely a mouse or shrew). They were just cleanly plucked from their sites, leaving no trace. Even more of a shock was finding a large spider guarding its latest meal...................
I believe this to be Drassodes lapidotus (Stone Spider or Mouse Spider). Another possibility is Drassodes cupreus (Blackwall Spider). You can see the point where it has injected digestive enzymes into the pupa. These have the effect of liquifying the contents of the pupa, enabling the spider to subsequently suck them up.
The outcome is quite dramatic, but I would not have guessed it was the work of a spider unless I had seen it for myself. This turned out not to be an isolated incident, because I lost another pupa to a similar spider in September 2103. Slugs and snails also predate huge numbers of eggs and many larvae are taken by wasps. Parasitism of eggs and larvae also affects countless individuals, however in 2018 it was unusual to see a Harlequin ladybird also taking an interest in some eggs. It did not eat all of the eggs and I suspect that it was just scavenging from those that had been damaged by previous predators.
However on a happier note........................
My pupae were overwintered in an outbuilding located on the north side of the house which has good light, ventilation and humidity levels. It does not significantly insulate the pupae from low temperatures in winter nor does it warm up readily in the spring. In all cases, overwintered pupae of all species kept in this environment, have hatched after those in the wild. All adults were released at a suitable site as soon as weather conditions would allow.
* NO SPIDERS WERE HARMED DURING THE PRODUCTION OF THIS REPORT
Reading References:
The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland (Thomas and Lewington 2014)
UK Butterflies Website
- Mark Colvin
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- Location: West Sussex
Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Hi Vince,
Great work, really GREAT ...
Good hunting.
Kind regards. Mark
Great work, really GREAT ...
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
Good hunting.
Kind regards. Mark
Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Fascinating stuff, Vince.
That grey coloured pupa is particularly interesting.
That grey coloured pupa is particularly interesting.
Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Great stuff, Vince! I remember my son coming back from school when he was very young, singing:
I went to the cabbage patch one day
and what do you think I saw?
Eggs in a cluster, yellow as a duster
What could it all be for?
I went to the cabbage patch one day
and what do you think I saw?
Caterpillars munching, caterpillars crunching
What could it all be for?
I went to the cabbage patch one day
and what do you think I saw?
Something rather super, something called a pupa
What could it all be for?
I went to the cabbage patch one day
and what do you think I saw?
I saw a butterfly, I saw it flutter by
It wasn't there before!
(there are probably various different versions)
Now you have captured it in images - it would all make excellent educational material.
Mike
I went to the cabbage patch one day
and what do you think I saw?
Eggs in a cluster, yellow as a duster
What could it all be for?
I went to the cabbage patch one day
and what do you think I saw?
Caterpillars munching, caterpillars crunching
What could it all be for?
I went to the cabbage patch one day
and what do you think I saw?
Something rather super, something called a pupa
What could it all be for?
I went to the cabbage patch one day
and what do you think I saw?
I saw a butterfly, I saw it flutter by
It wasn't there before!
(there are probably various different versions)
Now you have captured it in images - it would all make excellent educational material.
Mike
Re: Large White (Early Stages)
i don't suppose you could be more detailed in these reprts could you vince, they seem a bit lacking. said with tongue firmly planted in ones cheek.
excellent work.
Chris
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
excellent work.
Chris
Re: Large White (Early Stages)
I enjoyed this about the Large White. Makes me wonder if it was not for our liking of cabbage it would be alot more rare and appreciated as it is quite lovely. But having grown cabbage for many years my first reaction is still clouded by concern for my brassicas!
- Vince Massimo
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Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Thanks for all the comments everyone (rhyming or othwise
)
Chris, many thanks for pointing me in the right direction for identifying the spider back in October.
Hilary, like many other species, the Large White initially benefitted from the way man cultivated the land, but there are smaller populations now. There are natural factors at work here as well as the increased use of pesticides on brassica crops, intensification of farming and loss of habitat in the near continent.
Vince
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
David, that one on the bark was one of the pupae I lost to the mouse in January. So much for camouflage..............David M wrote:Fascinating stuff, Vince.
That grey coloured pupa is particularly interesting.
Chris, many thanks for pointing me in the right direction for identifying the spider back in October.
Hilary, like many other species, the Large White initially benefitted from the way man cultivated the land, but there are smaller populations now. There are natural factors at work here as well as the increased use of pesticides on brassica crops, intensification of farming and loss of habitat in the near continent.
Vince
- Vince Massimo
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- Location: Crawley, Sussex
Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Thanks Dean, I hope your studies are going well
Here is an update on this species.
2013 was a very good year for the Large White and many visited my garden. This enabled me to observe the species at my leisure, particularly in July and August when they were being attracted to my Buddleia, Nasturtium and fresh growth Garlic Mustard.
Many batches of eggs were found, particularly on the Nasturtium. These batches varied in size and most, but not all were placed on the underside of a leaf.
However some of the placement of eggs was erratic, for reasons unknown.
Then again in 2017
Also in 2017 I found a batch of eggs that had neatly been avoided by a browsing larva.
Other notable observations included a female egglaying on a Garlic Mustard plant that was in permanent deep shade.
Also a female which chose to lay a small batch on a withered Garlic Mustard leaf (facing the sun), despite having other healthy leaves within reach.
I have reared a small batch of larvae, which pupated around 24th August, but am not expecting any adults to emerge until May 2014.
Reference images of adults.
A list of other species covered by "Early Stages" reports can be found here viewforum.php?f=37
Vince
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Here is an update on this species.
2013 was a very good year for the Large White and many visited my garden. This enabled me to observe the species at my leisure, particularly in July and August when they were being attracted to my Buddleia, Nasturtium and fresh growth Garlic Mustard.
Many batches of eggs were found, particularly on the Nasturtium. These batches varied in size and most, but not all were placed on the underside of a leaf.
However some of the placement of eggs was erratic, for reasons unknown.
Then again in 2017
Also in 2017 I found a batch of eggs that had neatly been avoided by a browsing larva.
Other notable observations included a female egglaying on a Garlic Mustard plant that was in permanent deep shade.
Also a female which chose to lay a small batch on a withered Garlic Mustard leaf (facing the sun), despite having other healthy leaves within reach.
I have reared a small batch of larvae, which pupated around 24th August, but am not expecting any adults to emerge until May 2014.
Reference images of adults.
A list of other species covered by "Early Stages" reports can be found here viewforum.php?f=37
Vince
- Vince Massimo
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Re: Large White (Early Stages)
I have now had a chance to capture two sequences of adults emerging. That for a female has been added to the original report. Also a new pupation sequence (from 2017) and male emergence (from 2014) have been combined to produce the following. (Images have been rotated for presentation reasons).
This individual pupated in August 2013 and was one of several which were reared. The emergence sequence itself only lasted 90 seconds
Vince
This individual pupated in August 2013 and was one of several which were reared. The emergence sequence itself only lasted 90 seconds
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
Vince
Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Vince your posting is an education, having seen the Spider saving the Larva for later, made me think of Dave's posting today with the grubs coming out of the large Whites Larva, could these grubs come from a wasp
Goldie ![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
![Question :?:](./images/smilies/icon_question.gif)
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
- Vince Massimo
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Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Thanks Goldie, I'm still finding out new things about species that I thought I already understood
The grubs shown in Mike's (Maximus') photos are of small parasitic wasps which inject their eggs into the young caterpillars. They feed on the tissues of the living caterpillars, before emerging and forming cocoons where the adult wasps develop.
Vince
![Smile :)](./images/smilies/icon_smile.gif)
The grubs shown in Mike's (Maximus') photos are of small parasitic wasps which inject their eggs into the young caterpillars. They feed on the tissues of the living caterpillars, before emerging and forming cocoons where the adult wasps develop.
Vince
- Vince Massimo
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Re: Large White (Early Stages)
This report concerns parasitism of Large White larvae, specifically by the Braconid wasp Cotesia glomerata (also known as Anateles glomeratus).
During October 2018 I was monitoring Large White larvae in the wild which were feeding on Sea-kale (Crambe maritima) on the shingle beach at Lancing, Sussex. The plants can grow to within a few metres of the high water mark, but those used by the larvae were tucked-up against a south-facing wooden shingle barrier.
Whilst searching for pupae on the wooden barrier on 19th October 2018 I located a larva at rest and seemingly preparing to pupate.
However, the following day it was clear that it had been parasitised, as 4 grubs of the Braconid wasp Cotesia glomerata were emerging from its body.
These wasps lay multiple eggs into the bodies of young larvae and after the eggs have hatched the wasp grubs feed on the tissues of the living larva. They avoid the vital organs, keeping it alive until it is fully grown at which time they break through its skin. The caterpillar will die immediately or soon afterwards and the wasp grubs then spin yellow cocoons nearby from which the adult wasps will emerge 7 to 10 days later. On the morning of 21st October there were 4 cocoons alongside the caterpillar.
By the afternoon one cocoon had fallen away and another wasp grub was emerging from the body of the caterpillar. However there were also 2 adult wasps present with their ovipositors inserted into the cocoons, and these were soon joined by another wasp which, although larger, was probably of the same species.
The most likely explanation is that these wasps were using the first parasites as hosts for their own young. These are known as secondary hyperparasitoids, the most obvious candidate in this case being the Ichneumon wasp Lysibia nana which is well documented as parasitising Cotesia glomerata.
In July 2020 I documented the beginning of the process in the same location. Freshly emerged Large White larvae were attacked by several parasitic wasps of Cotesia glomerata. Attacks also came in from parasitic Chalcid wasps. Chalcids did not just attack young larvae, but also fully grown ones.
Addendum
Some more interesting observations on this subject reached me from Dave Harris of Newhaven, Sussex. He advised that he watched three Cotesia glomerata grubs emerging from the body of a Large White larva at the end of the 2018 season, but the larva did not die. It rested for eight or nine days days, then recommenced feeding and subsequently pupated on 14th November. At 21mm long, the pupa is approximately 4mm shorter than normal and has some discolouration on its underside, but otherwise there are no signs of obvious trauma at the site on the rear right-hand side of the body where the grubs emerged. Dave kindly sent me the pupa to enable me to make a photographic record and report this unusual story.
I will continue to monitor the pupa, but my impression is that it may now be dead, as it is not responding to any external stimuli...
As expected, the pupa subsequently died and turned brown in May 2019.
Dave Harris also sent me a report of a Large White larva that overwintered on Nasturtium during 2021-2022 and pupated in his Newhaven garden on 1st March 2022. The butterfly emerged successfully on 1st May 2022.
Vince
During October 2018 I was monitoring Large White larvae in the wild which were feeding on Sea-kale (Crambe maritima) on the shingle beach at Lancing, Sussex. The plants can grow to within a few metres of the high water mark, but those used by the larvae were tucked-up against a south-facing wooden shingle barrier.
Whilst searching for pupae on the wooden barrier on 19th October 2018 I located a larva at rest and seemingly preparing to pupate.
However, the following day it was clear that it had been parasitised, as 4 grubs of the Braconid wasp Cotesia glomerata were emerging from its body.
These wasps lay multiple eggs into the bodies of young larvae and after the eggs have hatched the wasp grubs feed on the tissues of the living larva. They avoid the vital organs, keeping it alive until it is fully grown at which time they break through its skin. The caterpillar will die immediately or soon afterwards and the wasp grubs then spin yellow cocoons nearby from which the adult wasps will emerge 7 to 10 days later. On the morning of 21st October there were 4 cocoons alongside the caterpillar.
By the afternoon one cocoon had fallen away and another wasp grub was emerging from the body of the caterpillar. However there were also 2 adult wasps present with their ovipositors inserted into the cocoons, and these were soon joined by another wasp which, although larger, was probably of the same species.
The most likely explanation is that these wasps were using the first parasites as hosts for their own young. These are known as secondary hyperparasitoids, the most obvious candidate in this case being the Ichneumon wasp Lysibia nana which is well documented as parasitising Cotesia glomerata.
In July 2020 I documented the beginning of the process in the same location. Freshly emerged Large White larvae were attacked by several parasitic wasps of Cotesia glomerata. Attacks also came in from parasitic Chalcid wasps. Chalcids did not just attack young larvae, but also fully grown ones.
Addendum
Some more interesting observations on this subject reached me from Dave Harris of Newhaven, Sussex. He advised that he watched three Cotesia glomerata grubs emerging from the body of a Large White larva at the end of the 2018 season, but the larva did not die. It rested for eight or nine days days, then recommenced feeding and subsequently pupated on 14th November. At 21mm long, the pupa is approximately 4mm shorter than normal and has some discolouration on its underside, but otherwise there are no signs of obvious trauma at the site on the rear right-hand side of the body where the grubs emerged. Dave kindly sent me the pupa to enable me to make a photographic record and report this unusual story.
I will continue to monitor the pupa, but my impression is that it may now be dead, as it is not responding to any external stimuli...
As expected, the pupa subsequently died and turned brown in May 2019.
Dave Harris also sent me a report of a Large White larva that overwintered on Nasturtium during 2021-2022 and pupated in his Newhaven garden on 1st March 2022. The butterfly emerged successfully on 1st May 2022.
Vince
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Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Hi Vince
That is a fantastic sequence of shots as always. What are the chances of being there at the exact moment that was going on. I would be interested to know how much time was spent on site waiting for that moment?
That is a fantastic sequence of shots as always. What are the chances of being there at the exact moment that was going on. I would be interested to know how much time was spent on site waiting for that moment?
- Tony Moore
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Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Absolutely brilliant report, Vince.
What was your camera set up?
Tony M.
What was your camera set up?
Tony M.
- Neil Hulme
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Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Simply brilliant. Great work, Vince.
BWs, Neil
BWs, Neil
Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Gruesome, but fascinating in equal measure, Vince. Superb observations again.
- Vince Massimo
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Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Thanks everyone. It was just a case of being in the right place at the right time. Every time I walked past the larva something different was happening, so I didn't have to wait for anything.
Tony, I was using my trusty Canon G10 set on macro (with flash on) at f/3.5, speed 1/500th and ISO 80, handheld and knees locked.
Continuing this theme over the winter of 2018/2019, I monitored a number of Large White pupae on the seafront at Lancing, West Sussex. By the end of November 2018 I located 15 pupae which had attached themselves to a timber shingle barrier which divided the beach from the promenade. The larvae had all fed on Sea-kale growing in the shingle on the sunny south side of the barrier, but had all pupated on the shady northern side.
Fourteen of the fifteen pupae were suspended head-up in a vertical position on the slats or posts of the barrier, some in small recesses in the wood.
The other managed to find a horizontal niche.
By April 2019 only five pupae remained, most of the others having turned brown and died, but a couple just went missing. Some of the dead ones were likely to have been parasitised, because one that I removed for study subsequently gave rise to a Tachinid fly, Compsilura concinnata.
Another common predator are the many species of parasitic Chalcid wasps.
The result is a brown pupa with small holes in it.
The first emergence of an adult white in this location in 2019 was on 20th April with the other four following on 4th, 6th and 7th May.
Very few Large Whites were seen in the locality in May or June and only one batch of larvae was subsequently located on flowering Sea-kale.
Many eggs were laid later in the season.
Thanks go to Chris Raper of the Natural History Museum for identification of the Tachinid fly.
Some more images from my Lancing garden in 2020.
Around the same time there was a funnel cloud seen nearby.
Vince
Tony, I was using my trusty Canon G10 set on macro (with flash on) at f/3.5, speed 1/500th and ISO 80, handheld and knees locked.
Continuing this theme over the winter of 2018/2019, I monitored a number of Large White pupae on the seafront at Lancing, West Sussex. By the end of November 2018 I located 15 pupae which had attached themselves to a timber shingle barrier which divided the beach from the promenade. The larvae had all fed on Sea-kale growing in the shingle on the sunny south side of the barrier, but had all pupated on the shady northern side.
Fourteen of the fifteen pupae were suspended head-up in a vertical position on the slats or posts of the barrier, some in small recesses in the wood.
The other managed to find a horizontal niche.
By April 2019 only five pupae remained, most of the others having turned brown and died, but a couple just went missing. Some of the dead ones were likely to have been parasitised, because one that I removed for study subsequently gave rise to a Tachinid fly, Compsilura concinnata.
Another common predator are the many species of parasitic Chalcid wasps.
The result is a brown pupa with small holes in it.
The first emergence of an adult white in this location in 2019 was on 20th April with the other four following on 4th, 6th and 7th May.
Very few Large Whites were seen in the locality in May or June and only one batch of larvae was subsequently located on flowering Sea-kale.
Many eggs were laid later in the season.
Thanks go to Chris Raper of the Natural History Museum for identification of the Tachinid fly.
Some more images from my Lancing garden in 2020.
Around the same time there was a funnel cloud seen nearby.
Vince
- Pete Eeles
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Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Superb thread ... how on earth did I miss the original wasp-related post?! Excellent stuff, Vince!
Cheers,
- Pete
Cheers,
- Pete
Life Cycles of British & Irish Butterflies: http://www.butterflylifecycles.com
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- Vince Massimo
- Administrator & Stock Contributor
- Posts: 1856
- Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2008 7:36 pm
- Location: Crawley, Sussex
Re: Large White (Early Stages)
Thanks Pete
The report is dated October 2018 and I suspect that you were a bit busy with your book at that time to see all the posts made on the website. I am also in the habit of constantly tinkering with and updating my reports, so new images and text often sneak in without anyone being aware of the amendments.
Vince
![Very Happy :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin.gif)
The report is dated October 2018 and I suspect that you were a bit busy with your book at that time to see all the posts made on the website. I am also in the habit of constantly tinkering with and updating my reports, so new images and text often sneak in without anyone being aware of the amendments.
Vince