This marker on the Cambridge Butterfly Trail is at Lammas Land – see the map above.

The Small white butterfly is one of the most familiar butterflies in the UK, regularly seen in gardens, parks and farmland from spring through to autumn. Often mistaken for the Large white, it is smaller, with cleaner white wings and faint grey or black tips.

Its caterpillars feed on brassicas such as cabbage, mustard and kale, which makes it a frequent visitor to vegetable patches and sometimes an unwelcome one for gardeners. Adults, however, feed on nectar and help pollinate a wide range of wildflowers.

Female Small whites are selective egg-layers: they tap leaves with their forelegs to detect plant chemistry, allowing them to choose suitable host plants for their offspring. This sensory check helps ensure their caterpillars will have the right food to grow.

While common, the Small white's success reflects its remarkable adaptability, from urban gardens to coastal margins, it thrives in a wide variety of habitats.

For more information, please visit Butterfly Conservation’s page on this species – Small white.