Black-veined white

The Black-veined white (Aporia crataegi) is a butterfly belonging to the Pieridae family within the order Lepidoptera. It is recognized as a significant agricultural pest, particularly affecting fruit orchards and ornamental trees across the temperate regions of Europe and Asia.

This insect primarily infests trees from the Rosaceae family. Common hosts include apple, pear, plum, cherry, hawthorn, and rowan. Due to the larvae's high appetite, infestations can lead to significant defoliation, which severely hampers the photosynthetic capacity of the trees and reduces total fruit yields.

The life cycle consists of one generation per year. The overwintering stage occurs as young larvae, which congregate in characteristic nests made of silk and dried leaves attached firmly to twigs. In spring, as temperatures rise, the larvae emerge from these winter nests to feed voraciously on swelling buds and expanding leaves.

The damage caused by these caterpillars is characterized by leaf skeletonization and complete defoliation of branches. During outbreak years, a colony can consume a large proportion of the canopy, which weakens the tree's health and makes it more susceptible to environmental stress and secondary pests or diseases.

Effective management strategies combine cultural and chemical control measures. Mechanical removal of the overwintering nests during pruning is a highly effective, non-chemical method. If populations exceed damage thresholds, systemic or contact insecticides should be applied during the early larval development stages to minimize impact on the orchard ecosystem.