Genus APORIA, Hubner , 1823 
i 
THE BLACK-VEINED WHITE 
Aporia crataegi (Linn., 1758). 
(Plate XXV, facing page 292) 
Haunts and Distribution. Formerly this fine insect was 
very abundant in many localities, but much more so in some 
seasons than in others. In 1856, 1866 and in 1870 it abounded 
in the New Forest. In the Rochester district it was very 
common until about 1868 ; it was so plentiful in 1866 that 
dozens could be found after sunset resting on grass-heads and 
other growth in the fields that then existed in and around 
Rochester and Strood. The last specimen was seen in the 
New Forest about 1880, and nothing has been reported of 
this butterfly in the Rochester localities since 1872. In a 
certain part of Kent it survived and continued to exist, but 
in decreasing numbers, until about 1925, since when it has 
disappeared, and is now probably extinct as a British species. 
But in July, 1926, a specimen of this butterfly was seen in 
Sussex, as recorded by Mr. Stonor in The Field. 
No satisfactory explanation can be given for its disappear¬ 
ance from so many and widely-separated haunts. It began 
to die off towards the end of the sixties and in a comparatively 
very brief period had quite vanished. In some parts of the 
Continent, where this butterfly sometimes occurs in the 
greatest abundance, it may, from some mysterious cause, 
suddenly disappear for a number of years, and again make its 
appearance and become as plentiful as formerly. 
There is no record of the occurrence of A . crataegi anywhere 
north of Northampton, and it is unknown in Ireland. 
Its distribution extends throughout the Palaearctic regions 
from England to Japan. 
Time of Appearance. The Black-veined White appears 
towards the end of June and July. Its favourite haunts are 
Clover, Lucerne and Corn fields, where it frequently passes 
the night at rest on ears of corn ; it may often be found 
resting on Clover during dull weather and in the evening. 
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