Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Order: Lepidoptera (le-pid-OP-ter-a) (Info) Family: Pieridae (pee-AIR-ih-dee) (Info) Genus: Pieris (pee-AIR-iss) (Info) Species: rapae (RAP-ee) (Info) Profile: No positives 2 neutrals 1 negative Regional... This bug has been reportedly found in the following regions: , Marion, Arkansas Canoga Park, California Boca Raton, Florida Galva, Illinois West Des Moines, Iowa Melbourne, Kentucky Algonac, Michigan Minneapolis, Minnesota Butte, Montana Missoula, Montana Maplewood, New Jersey Marlton, New Jersey Glouster, Ohio Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Gold Hill, Oregon Alexandria, Pennsylvania Fort Worth, Texas Chewelah, Washington Pullman, Washington Member Notes: Rating Author Comment Neutral Scorpioangel On Jul 26, 2006, Scorpioangel from Gold Hill, OR (Zone 7a) wrote: Identification: Upperside of wings white; forewing with black tip. Two submarginal black spots in female, one in male. Underside of hindwing and forewing apex evenly yellow-green or gray-green. Spring and fall short-day form is smaller, less yellow, with reduced black areas. Caterpillar hosts: Many plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family and occasionally some in the caper family (Capparidaceae). Adult food: Flower nectar from a very wide array of plants including mustards, dandelion, red clover, asters, and mints. Habitat: Almost any type of open space including weedy areas, gardens, roadsides, cities, and suburbs. Range: From central Canada south through the United States (except Florida Keys, southern Louisiana, and South Texas) to northwest Mexico. Males patrol for females. Females lay single eggs on undersides of host leaves. Chrysalids hibernate. Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches (4.5 - 5.8 cm). Negative woofie On Nov 13, 2006, woofie from Chewelah, WA (Zone 5a) wrote: I found this comment on several websites as I was looking for information on this bug (which is also known as Cabbage Butterfly): "The infested foliage is toxic upon consumption by animals. " Neutral Malus2006 On Feb 13, 2008, Malus2006 from Coon Rapids, MN (Zone 4a) wrote: They are one of the most common butterflies around, coming in on the first warm winds (50 to 60 degree) during early spring - have seen them in Minnesota in April. Since they eat mustard family, they eat many weeds. The negative is that they limit ornamental lettuce to the cooler days around the edges of the growing season as their caterpillars (fairly small and green) will leaves lots of holes in ornamental lettuce and to find them you have to look under the leaves. They are also one of the last to leave in the fall - even coming back after the first frost. They are always searching for host plants or mates. In the Midwest 80 to 90% of white butterflies are this species, the other % white phase of Yellow Sulphur or rarer whites. To id White phase of Sulphur you have to be lucky up close or to handle it - it have more black and may have 1 pair of orange spots on wings - both Cabbage White and Sulphur are very wary butterflies as they are edible to many animals and flies in the open so they are always moving errantic and fast to avoid birds.

By Scorpioangel By kennedyh By kennedyh By Todd_Boland By DiOhio By DiOhio By DiOhio There are a total of 20 photos. Click here to view them all!