This butterfly has undergone serious declines throughout the woodlands of England and Wales. A few historical records, such as these recorded by Jenyns, indicate that it used to be present in the county but it is no longer found in Cambridgeshire. Interestingly, a near identical species, the cryptic wood white, was recognised in 2011. This cryptic species represents nearly all of the wood whites found in Ireland but no cryptic wood white’s have been found in Britain.