Wood White
Leptidea sinapis
Conservation status data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons (CC) via https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptidea_sinapis
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Lepidoptera
Family
Pieridae
Genus
Leptidea
Wood White belongs to the family Pieridae, order Lepidoptera, within the Insecta class.
Species Profile
Species profile data sourced from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
The Wood White faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat loss and fragmentation of its specialized woodland environments. Climate change and intensive land management practices have further reduced the availability of suitable breeding sites and larval host plants, pushing this delicate butterfly species toward extinction.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Wood Whites inhabit deciduous and mixed woodlands, particularly favoring woodland edges, clearings, and rides with abundant flowering plants. They require areas with their specific larval host plants from the pea family (Fabaceae) such as meadow vetchling and bird's-foot trefoil in semi-shaded woodland environments.
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Wood White faces severe population declines across its range due to habitat loss and fragmentation of its specialized woodland environments. Climate change and intensive land management practices have further reduced the availability of suitable breeding sites and larval host plants, pushing this delicate butterfly species toward extinction.
Climate change impacts
Habitat loss and fragmentation
Intensive forestry practices
Loss of larval host plants
Agricultural intensification
National vs Global Threat Status
How this species is assessed at the national level compared to its IUCN global status (CR).
| Country | National Status | Global Status | Comparison |
|---|---|---|---|
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | Lower local risk |
| EU | LCLeast Concern | CRCritically Endangered | 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). Wood White (Leptidea sinapis). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/wood-white