Small White                      © DHardiman 2005

                                                                                                      

                                                                                    Life Cycle of  the Small White

Ovum:
Eggs are laid singly under a leaf of the food plant,  preferably in a sheltered  position.
Initially straw-coloured but becoming a darker yellow within a few days.

© DHardiman 2002

They are rounded,  almost conical in shape and  c.1.0 mm high.
They hatch  within days in warm weather but can take up to 7 days. 

 

Larva:
The larva is green in colour and well camouflaged.  It has a narrow  pale yellow-green dorsal stripe and two
distinctive yellow spots on each segment along the line of the spiracles. 
The body is covered with small black tubercles each containing a short  seta.  
The larval stage lasts c.20 days before pupation.

© DHardiman 2001

 

Pupa:
Larvae of the spring generation often pupate on their food plant  but those of  a later generation  leave 
their food plant to pupate on fences, windowsills etc. The pupae are held in position by a cremaster and a silken 
girdle spun by mature larvae. 

© DHardiman 2001

First generation pupae produce butterflies in c.3 weeks while the final generation overwinters  in this
stage, producing butterflies the following April.

 

Adult:
The adults emerges at the end of April and mating takes place.  They survive for approximately 3 weeks.