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Species account
Skovhvidvinge
(Leptidea sinapis)
Linnaeus (1758)
Hvidvinger (Pieridae)
WOWH
24849
Wood White (gb)
Esbelta Común (es)
Skogsvitvinge (se)
Subspecies
sinapis
sinensis
Butler (1873)
vibilioides
Verity (1911).
diniensis
Boisduval (1840) - S France, N Italy.
colladoi
Rubio (1969) - Andalusia.
mendesi
Bryk (1940) - W Iberian pen.
corsica
Verity (1911) - Corsica.
stabiarum
Stauder (1914) - Italy.
sartha
Rühl (1893) - Asia Minor.
deserticola
Verity (1908) - Near Orient.
maiorides
Verity (1911) - S Russia.
lathyrides
Vertiy (1911) - Siberia, Amur and Trans-Baikal.
koraicola
Bryk (1946) - Korea.
melanoinspersa
Verity (1911) - Tianshan, Darvaz, Alai, Altai, W-Pamir.
Measurements:
WS: 39-41mm
Generations:
2
Flight period:
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Identification:
Very similar to juvernica (Enghvidvinge). Guaranteed identification can only be ascertained by comparing the genitalia which are unique to both.
In the field the males are stronger colored than females, and so is 1. generation compared to 2. generation.
The black spot at the tip of the forewing is the best way to distinguish the two males. Sinapis shows a perpendicular shape, 90 degrees, to the inner corner of the spot. On juvernica the angle is more than 90 degrees causing the black spot to spread out more.
Lars Andersen, danske-natur.dk, mentions that the most reliable field character to distinguish the two males is that WOWH has a more round front edge to the forewing (guess it requires good experience to use this for id).
The females are practically alike but sinapis is in general more white without dark markings other than along the ribbons on the forewing. Here the female still shows the black spot on the forewing similar to the male, but much weaker.
According to Nordens Fjärilar it is also possible to separate the two species by the way they act before mating. When a male and a female are in position the male sinapis starts waving his proboscis in front of the female and if he after more than 30 seconds start flapping the wings too, then it is with certainty a WOWH, because the male juvernica always keeps the wings together during courtship. However, only if the female accepts the invitation and connects with the male is it possible to id the female, since the two species fly in the same habitats and are known to courtship each other.
In the field the males are stronger colored than females, and so is 1. generation compared to 2. generation.
The black spot at the tip of the forewing is the best way to distinguish the two males. Sinapis shows a perpendicular shape, 90 degrees, to the inner corner of the spot. On juvernica the angle is more than 90 degrees causing the black spot to spread out more.
Lars Andersen, danske-natur.dk, mentions that the most reliable field character to distinguish the two males is that WOWH has a more round front edge to the forewing (guess it requires good experience to use this for id).
The females are practically alike but sinapis is in general more white without dark markings other than along the ribbons on the forewing. Here the female still shows the black spot on the forewing similar to the male, but much weaker.
According to Nordens Fjärilar it is also possible to separate the two species by the way they act before mating. When a male and a female are in position the male sinapis starts waving his proboscis in front of the female and if he after more than 30 seconds start flapping the wings too, then it is with certainty a WOWH, because the male juvernica always keeps the wings together during courtship. However, only if the female accepts the invitation and connects with the male is it possible to id the female, since the two species fly in the same habitats and are known to courtship each other.
Similar species:
Life stages:
Distribution:
Most of Europe, Turkey, Middle East to Tian Shan.
Before the Danish extinction it was a species of the forests of eastern Jylland and Sjælland.
Before the Danish extinction it was a species of the forests of eastern Jylland and Sjælland.
Habitat:
Forests with low-nutrient soils; clearings, edges, roadsides etc. But also visits open meadows where it can fly together with juvernica.
Behavior:
Weak flier - slow and low.
Status:
Extinct in Denmark 1976, Marselisborg-skovene.
Still common in the other Nordic countries.
Still common in the other Nordic countries.
Host plants:
Northern Europe:
Gul Fladbælg (Lathyrus pratensis) [Meadow Vetchling ~ Gulvial]
Krat-Fladbælg (Lathyrus linifolius) [Bitter Vetch ~ Gökärt]
Central Europe:
Lucerne (Medicago sativa) [Alfalfa ~ Lucerna ~ Foderlusern]
Muse-Vikke (Vicia cracca) [Tufted Vetch ~ Arveja Silvestre ~ Kråkvicker]
Vår-Vikke (Vicia lathyroides) [Spring Vetch ~ Vårvicker]
Almindelig Kællingetand (Lotus corniculatus) [Bird's-foot Trefoil ~ Loto Corniculado ~ Käringtand]
Kær-Fladbælg (Lathyrus palustris) [Marsh Pea ~ Kärrvial]
Gul Fladbælg (Lathyrus pratensis) [Meadow Vetchling ~ Gulvial]
Krat-Fladbælg (Lathyrus linifolius) [Bitter Vetch ~ Gökärt]
Central Europe:
Lucerne (Medicago sativa) [Alfalfa ~ Lucerna ~ Foderlusern]
Muse-Vikke (Vicia cracca) [Tufted Vetch ~ Arveja Silvestre ~ Kråkvicker]
Vår-Vikke (Vicia lathyroides) [Spring Vetch ~ Vårvicker]
Almindelig Kællingetand (Lotus corniculatus) [Bird's-foot Trefoil ~ Loto Corniculado ~ Käringtand]
Kær-Fladbælg (Lathyrus palustris) [Marsh Pea ~ Kärrvial]
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1504
(4 photos)
2023-06-05 Allgunnens Naturreservat (Kalmar), Sweden
Imago 1. generation. Ok, here we go. New species, and after studying Nordens Fjärilar (Söderström) I felt confident that it would be rather easy to separate the two leptidea species in the field. But! The shape of the dark wing tip is not so straight forward to ascertain as he suggests in the book, since it requires photos shot at the right angle, and even then the spot is often diffuse with ill-defined borders giving reason for doubt. The mating ritual by the male is another way to separate the two, but of course only if you witness it: the male sinapis shivering the wings while courting the female. Finally he mentions that the habitat is a way to separate the two. At least partly since juvernica doesn't fly in forests but both of the them fly in open land meadows. All the animals we saw at Allgunnen were found in forested habitat why I, for the moment, decide to call them all sinapis. And this even though the wing spot angle certainly seems larger than 90 degrees (which it is on juvernica) in photos 3 and 4. |
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1505
(3 photos)
2023-06-05 Allgunnens Naturreservat (Kalmar), Sweden
Imago 1. generation. A good example of how confusing photos can be. Here the wing spot angle seems to vary between all three photos, why it would probably be wiser to leave it unidentified. But I continue to go with the habitat division (from Nordens Fjärilar) saying that in forests on sinapis flies. |
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1506
(1 photos)
2023-06-05 Allgunnens Naturreservat (Kalmar), Sweden
Imago 1. generation. |
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1592
(14 photos)
2023-06-07 Valdemarsvik (Östergötland), Sweden
Imago I think it is the same individual. In forest habitat, and yes, in some photos it look like this and in others like that, so again I go with the habitat, for a while, and call it a wood... |
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1593
(11 photos)
2023-06-07 Valdemarsvik (Östergötland), Sweden
Imago I think it is the same individual. In forest habitat, and yes, in some photos it look like this and in others like that, so again I go with the habitat, for a while, and call it a wood... |
In Nordic region 2.generation much less numerous than 1.generation.
Subspecies taken from www.euroleps.ch which states that no general acceptance exists about their validity.