Species account

Grønbroget Kålsommerfugl (Pontia edusa)    
   Hvidvinger (Pieridae)    EBWH    24842
Eastern Bath White (gb)   Grönfläckig Vitfjäril (se)      Synonyms: Grønbroget Hvidvinge (dk) Grönfläckig Kålfjäril (se)
Measurements:
WS: 37-44mm
Generations:
2-3
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
SE
Identification:
From above like the other whites in the Scandinavian area, except that the black tip to the forewing is broken by white patches. Both sexes have a large squarish black spot on the forewing, in the discal area close to the front edge.

Females are bigger and darker, and has an extra black spot on the upper forewing.
The underside is characteristic by the green and white marbled pattern which is much more well-defined than on cardamines [Aurora].

Vestlig Grønbroget Kålsommerfugl (Pontia daplidice) [Bath White ~ Blanquiverdosa ~ Västlig Grönfläckig Vitfjäril], found in the SW corner of Europe, is very similar, and the two have traditionally been regarded as inseparable in the field. However, it seems that where edusae shows green colors to all the spots on tip of the underside of the forewing, daplidice often has one of the spots tinted black. Or blackish.
Similar species:
Life stages:
Distribution:
Central and southeast Europe patchily to E Asia.
Habitat:
Dry warm terrain with sparce and scattered vegetation including coasts. But also flowery field with kløver [Clover] or Lucerne [Alfalfa].
Behavior:
Flying lower and more rapid than other whites in our region.
Status:
Scarce visitor in Denmark in late summer, mostly in the southern part of the country, especially Bornholm, Falster and Lolland.

Did breed regularly in Denmark until 1919 and later in the decades after WWII. In Sweden a breeding population is found on Gotland, the only one in Scandinavia.
Host plants:
In Denmark when breeding:
Strandsennep (Cakile maritima) [Sea Rocket ~ Oruga de Mar ~ Marviol]
Strand-Karse (Lepidium latifolium) [Perennial Pepperweed ~ Rompepiedras ~ Bitterkrassing]
Gul Reseda (Reseda lutea) [Yellow Mignonette ~ Gulreseda]


Raps (Brassica napus napus) [Rapeseed ~ Raps ~ Raps]
Hyrdetaske (Capsella bursa-pastoris) [shepherd's purse ~ Lomme]
Gul Sennep (Sinapis alba) [White Mustard ~ Mostaza Blanca ~ Vitsenarp]
Radise (Raphanus sativus) [Radish ~ Rábano ~ Rättika]
Stinkende Karse (Lepidium ruderale) [Roadside Pepperweed ]
Feeding plants:
Many as the host plants.
Comment:
EBWH
Second generation much more numerous than the first.

The distribution of this species compared to the southern counterpart daplidice [Vestlig Grønbroget Kålsommerfugl], is rather odd, referring to the population that is found in Brittany, France which is well-within the accepted distribution of daplidice.
Eastern Bath White 1828    (1 photos)
2023-07-20    Næs-Skaverup Strandeng (sjælland), Denmark

Imago
Might be the same as one of the others photographed today.

Here on Almindelig Røllike (Achillea millefolium) [Yarrow ~ Milenrama ~ Röllika]




Eastern Bath White 1827    (7 photos)
2023-07-20    Næs-Skaverup Strandeng (sjælland), Denmark

Imago Han
A lifer. Perhaps. If I didn't have it with SKR in the 90'ies...

Up to 8 have been reported from this spot, and I estimated that I saw 5. It was very windy and the animals moved far about making it difficult to keep track of them.

LAK and TL were there too.




Eastern Bath White 1829    (7 photos)
2023-07-20    Næs-Skaverup Strandeng (sjælland), Denmark

Imago Han
Here on Hjortetrøst (Eupatorium cannabinum) [Hemp-Agrimony ~ Cannabina ~ Hampflockel] and Blåhat (Knautia arvensis) [Field Scabious ~ Escabiosa ~ Åkervädd ]