The mature caterpillar is about 3/4 of an inch in length. It is a bright green with yellowish back stripes and side stripes. Although to the naked eye it appears to be hairless, it is covered with short, fuzzy light-colored hairs.
The Cabbage White butterfly has become very common from early spring to late fall in Fontenelle Forest and Neale Woods since the invasion of Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) into our area. The caterpillars can be found on mustard plants, especially Garlic Mustard.
The Cabbage White butterfly is 1 1/2 inches in length. It is mostly white dorsally, with the male having one black spot in the middle of the forewing. The female has 2 black spots on the forewing. Both sexes have a horizontal smudgy black patch at the tip of the forewing. Ventrally, the hindwing and corner of the forewing vary in color from pale to bright yellow with scattered gray speckling.
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