Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Pieris rapae
WHITE AND SULPHUR FAMILY (Pieridae)

Click on each photo thumbnail to enlarge.

This butterfly has a wingspan of approximately 1 1/2 inches. It is mostly white with gray antennae. Dorsally, the male has one black spot in the middle of the forewing and the female has 2 black spots. 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. Similar species are Checkered White and the albino forms of the female Orange Sulphur and Clouded Sulphur. The mature caterpillar is about 3/4 of an inch in length (see Photo D). 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 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. Since the butterfly is also an alien that was introduced from Europe, it has thrived on this abundant plant.

 

The foodplants of the larvae of this species are cabbage, nasturtiums, watercress and mustards. The adults can be seen nectaring at flowers and taking salts from wet soil (photo D).

 

Disclaimer: The content of NatureSearch is provided by dedicated volunteer Naturalists of Fontenelle Forest who strive to provide the most accurate information available. Contributors of the images retain their copyrights. The point of contact for this page is: Babs Padelford.