Cabbage White
Pieris rapae

Size:
Wingspan is 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches.

Similar Species:
West Virginia White
Checkered White
Clouded/Orange Sulphur white females.

Habitat:
Open county, fields, gardens also found just about anywhere.

Range/Abundance:
Common to very common in the entire region.

Flight Period:
Adults fly from late February until mid November in several broods.

Larval Host Plants:
Mustards Brassica spp.and garden plants like cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli.

Comments:
The male has one black forewing spot and the slightly larger female has two black forewing spots. These black forewing spots make this species easy to identify from other species of whites.

The Cabbage White is not native to North America. It arrived in Quebec Canada in 1860 from Europe and since then has become one of the most widespread butterfly species in North America.

Farmers and gardeners consider this butterfly a bad pest because it eats the tender young plants of the cabbage family.

The top photo was taken in Caswell Co., NC on June 06, 2004. The second and third photo were taken by Bob Moul in PA. The fourth photo was taken in Giles Co., VA in July 2000.

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