Cabbage White
Pieris rapae
Image by Dirk Daniel Mann, Pixabay
Summary
This small white butterfly is our most abundant introduced butterfly, having arrived from Europe around 1860. Overwintering as a chrysalis, they’re active very early in the season, a harbinger of spring for butterfly lovers. Vegetable gardeners may view their appearance with less enthusiasm, as their larvae are major pests of brassicas such as kale and broccoli. Cabbage whites nectar on a variety of native pollinator plants, including aster, mint, goldenrod and vervain.
More Details
FAMILY
Pieridae (Whites and Sulphurs)
IDENTIFICATION
Wingspan 1.3-1.9 inches, smudges on the insides of the wingtips look like a dusting of charcoal. Males have one black dot on each forewing; females have two.
HABITAT
Any open area, expanding into woodland clearings
LIFE CYCLE
Females lay elongated, vibrant yellow, bottle-shaped eggs. Cabbage white lays so many eggs at one time, large broods can quickly devour the host plant. Caterpillars often attach themselves to a leaf to pupate. Overwinters as pupa. Adult males puddle.
HOST PLANTS
Many species of mustard family (Brassicaceae), including wild species and cultivated cabbage, cauliflowers, broccoli, etc.
Ecosystem Connections
The caterpillars are herbivores that graze on vegetation, including wild mustards, and the adults serve a role in pollination. All stages provide food for predators that range from other insects to birds, reptiles, and mammals.