Large White: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Butterflies of Europe · day 5 of 7

Five facts

1. Before laying eggs, a female drums on a leaf with her front legs to test whether the plant is right for her young.
2. The caterpillars eat plants full of mustard oils, which makes them taste bad to birds. Their bright colours are a warning.
3. Its eggs start pale yellow and darken within a day. A few hours before hatching they turn black, and the tiny caterpillar shows through the shell.
4. Large whites can migrate more than 800 km. Oddly, in spring they head off in any direction except north.
5. Adults learn which flowers they like to feed on. Their choices depend on what they have tried before, not just on their senses.

The quiz

1. How does a female large white test a leaf before laying eggs?

• She chews a hole in it
• She drums on it with her front legs (correct)
• She rubs her wings on it
• She lays one test egg on it

She drums on the leaf with her forelegs to check the plant.

2. Why do birds tend to leave large white caterpillars alone?

• They can sting
• They hide underground
• They taste bad (correct)
• They move too fast

Mustard oils from their food make them distasteful, and their bright colours warn of it.

3. What colour does a large white egg turn a few hours before hatching?

• Black (correct)
• Pure white
• Pale green
• Red

The egg turns black, and the caterpillar can be seen inside.

4. How far can large whites migrate?

• No more than 80 m
• No more than 8 km
• They never migrate
• More than 800 km (correct)

These butterflies can migrate more than 800 km.

5. How do adult large whites choose which plants to feed on?

• They copy other butterflies
• They learn from past experience (correct)
• They only ever visit white flowers
• They always pick the tallest plant

Studies show their food preferences are learned from earlier experiences.

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