Species account

Sortåret Hvidvinge (Aporia crataegi)    Linnaeus (1758)
   Hvidvinger (Pieridae)    BVWH    24838
Black-veined White (gb)   Blanca del Majuelo (es)   Hagtornsfjäril (se)      Synonyms: Hvidtjørnsommerfugl (dk)
Subspecies
crataegi
Scandinavia
adherbal
Fruhstorfer (1910) - Japan.
augusta
Turati (1905) - Sicily.
augustor
Graves (1925) - Jordan, Israel.
banghaasi
Bryk (1921).
basania
Fruhstorfer (1910) - Alps.
colona
Krulikowsky (1909) - Russia.
fert
Turati & Fiori (1930) - Greece.
hyalina
Röber (1907) - Asia Minor.
iranica
Forster (1939) - Armenia, Iran, Azerbaijan.
karavaievi
Krulikowsky (1926) - Russia, Ukraine, Balkans.
mauretanica
Obethür (1909) - Northern Africa.
meinhardi
Krulikowsky (1909) - Siberia, Kamchatka Peninsula.
pellucida
Ruber (1907) - Kopet-Dagh.
rotunda
Eitschberger (1971) - Italy.
rutae
Bryk (1940) - Spain.
sakhalinensis
Matsumura (1925) - Sakhalin.
shugnana
Sheljuzhko (1925) - Pamir.
tianschanica
Rühl (1893).
transitoria
Lempke (1974) - Central Europe.
Measurements:
WS: 55-66mm
Generations:
1
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
SE
Identification:
The largest white in the Scandinavian region and unique with the dark/black ribbons throughout both wings. The male shows a black discal spot on the upper forewing that the female lacks.

The flight is elegant soaring and different from the the whites in the area, perhaps except for Mnemosyne (Parnassius mnemosyne) [Clouded Apollo ~ Mnemosine ~ Mnemosynefjäril], not present in Denmark.

Because of the interaction between the sexes the scales of the female wings often get worn off rapidly and the wings become transparent darkish.
Similar species:
Life stages:
Distribution:
Europe, Middle East toward Japan. In Denmark only in Jutland.
Habitat:
Heaths, meadows and pastures mixed with bushes, along forest openings, edges and roads, oak groves.
Behavior:
Especially males can seek up wet soil and make large congregations while drinking water or minerals and salt.
Status:
Used to be common in Denmark, but now rare and very localized, only in central and northern Jylland. However, recent years have seen more observations, likely due to climate changes, in other areas, including on Sjælland, from where it disappeared in the 1950'ies.

Also restricted distribution in Sweden and Finland (Norway very local), but is one of the most common species in nearby Russia from were influxes appear at times.
Host plants:
Almindelig Røn (Sorbus aucuparia) [Rowan ~ Serbal de los Cazadores ~ Rönn]
Slåen (Prunus spinosa) [Blackthorn ~ Endrino ~ Slån]
Engriflet Hvidtjørn (Crataegus monogyna) [One-seed Hawthorne ~ Majuelo ~ Trubbhagtorn]
Almindelig Hvidtjørn (Crataegus laevigata) [Woodland Hawthorn ~ Majuelo de dos Huesos ~ Rundhagtorn]
Blomme (Prunus domestica) [European Plum ~ Ciruelo Europeo ~ Plommon]
Weichsel (Prunus mahaleb) [Mahaleb Cherry ~ Cerezo de Santa Lucía ~ Vejksel]
Skov-Æble (Malus sylvestris) [European Crab Apple ~ Manzano Silvestre ~ Vildapel]
Japansk Kvæde (Chaenomeles japonica) [Japanese Quince ~ Membrillo Japonés ~ Liten rosenkvitten]

Feeding plants:
Various species of Knopurt (Centaurea sp.) [Knapweeds ~ Klint]
Ager-Tidsel (Cirsium arvense) [Creeping Thistle ~ Cardo cundidor ~ Åkertistel]
Kær-Tidsel (Cirsium palustre) [Marsh Thistle ~ Kärrtistel]

Comment:
The larvae can be numerous and when using fruit trees as hostplants they can cause severe damages to entire trees defoliating them in short time. This of course is more likely in areas where the species is more common than in the Scandinavian countries.

Subspecies taken from wiki, but from a field-id point of view none relevant to Europe.
Black-veined White 1550    (9 photos)
2023-06-07    Hästenäs Kyrkskog (Östergötland), Sweden

Imago
A lifer. Large and magnificent.
Here on a hawkweed species (hieracium sp.) [Høgeurt sp.]



Black-veined White 1552    (2 photos)
2023-06-07    Hästenäs Kyrkskog (Östergötland), Sweden

Imago
Here on Zigzag Clover [Bugtet Kløver] with a Brimstone [Citronsommerfugl].