Black-veined White
Aporia crataegi
Aporia crataegi, the black-veined white, is a large butterfly of the family Pieridae. A.
66
Countries
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aporia_crataegi
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Pieridae
Genus
Aporia
Black-veined White belongs to the family Pieridae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Aporia crataegi, the black-veined white, is a large butterfly of the family Pieridae. A. crataegi is widespread and common. Its range extends from northwest Africa in the west to Transcaucasia and across the Palearctic to Siberia and Japan in the east. In the south, it is found in Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and Syria. It is not usually present in the British Isles or northern Scandinavia.
The Black-veined White butterfly faces significant population declines across much of its range due to habitat loss and agricultural intensification. The species has experienced dramatic range contractions in many European countries, with local extinctions documented in several regions including parts of the British Isles and central Europe.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Open woodlands, forest edges, orchards, hedgerows, and scrubland areas where host plants such as hawthorn (Crataegus), blackthorn (Prunus spinosa), and various fruit trees are abundant. The species typically inhabits elevations from sea level to approximately 2000m in mountainous regions.
Threats
Agricultural intensification and pesticide use
Habitat fragmentation and loss of hedgerows
Climate change affecting breeding cycles
Loss of host plant availability (hawthorn, blackthorn, fruit trees)
Urban development and land use changes
Found in 66 Countries
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (VU).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | VUVulnerable | Lower local risk |
National Red List data sourced from the National Red List Project (nationalredlist.org, ZSL) and country-specific Red List authorities.
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
National Red Lists: ZSL (2025). National Red List. Zoological Society of London. Available at: https://www.nationalredlist.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Black-veined White (Aporia crataegi). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/black-veined-white