Rare Butterfly Spotted in England for the First Time

As of August 8th, 2025, the southern small white butterfly has officially arrived in England. This species, once limited to southern Europe, has been steadily expanding its range northward over the past decade, assisted by global heating.

Two sightings of the southern small white have been confirmed this summer - one in County Durham in early July, and another in Suffolk in early August. These tiny butterflies closely resemble the native small, large, and green-veined whites, but can be distinguished by the square-shaped black markings on their forewing tips.

The southern small white's rapid colonization of northern Europe has been closely tracked by experts. It was first spotted north of the Alps in France and Germany in 2008, reached the Netherlands in 2015, and was recorded near Calais just four years ago. Now, it has finally crossed the North Sea to establish a presence in Britain.

Unlike the large white, whose caterpillars are infamous for devouring brassicas, the southern small white's larvae feed on candytuft, an evergreen shrub commonly planted in gardens. This makes the new arrival a potential welcome guest for green-fingered enthusiasts.

Lepidopterists are hopeful the southern small white will become a permanent fixture in the UK, as the country experiences a surge in butterfly and moth sightings following the sunniest spring on record. The spectacular Jersey Tiger moth, once confined to the Channel Islands and southern England, has even been spotted as far north as Birmingham.

While these climate-driven changes bring new species, experts warn there will be both winners and losers as the rapid pace of global warming continues. Maintaining high-quality, connected habitats will be crucial to support threatened species alongside the mobile, adaptable newcomers.