Cabbage White
Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
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.
Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches (4.5 - 5.8 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for females. Females lay single eggs on undersides of host leaves. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: Two to three in northern part of range; 7-8 in the south. It is usually the first butterfly to emerge in spring.
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.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Ensure control steps do not affect other invertebrate fauna.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Artogeia rapae
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 19295 verified sightings
Observation date: May 05, 2024
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: Jul 09, 2021
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Ouray County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 07, 2024
Observation date: Apr 01, 2024
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2024
Observation date: Apr 21, 2024
Submitted by: terrymortier
Region: St. Croix County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 23, 2024
Observation date: Apr 21, 2024
Submitted by: drmarc60223
Region: La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Apr 21, 2024
Observation date: Apr 12, 2024
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Grundy County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Apr 16, 2024
Observation date: Apr 09, 2024
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 15, 2024
Observation date: Apr 07, 2024
Submitted by: Mzteachuh
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 07, 2024
Observation date: Nov 07, 2023
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
Observation date: Apr 02, 2023
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
Observation date: Mar 29, 2024
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Johnson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Apr 01, 2024
Observation date: Mar 30, 2024
Submitted by: mcvaugh
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2024
Observation date: Mar 13, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Knox County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Mar 22, 2024
Observation date: Feb 24, 2024
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 11, 2024
Observation date: Feb 28, 2024
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 29, 2024
Observation date: Jan 11, 2024
Submitted by: MsMStill
Region: Blaine County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Feb 15, 2024
Observation date: Aug 16, 2023
Submitted by: Paralaxita
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 29, 2024
Observation date: Jul 06, 2022
Submitted by: Paralaxita
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 29, 2024
Observation date: Jun 03, 2022
Submitted by: Paralaxita
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 24, 2021
Submitted by: Paralaxita
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 18, 2020
Submitted by: Paralaxita
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 29, 2024
Observation date: Oct 04, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Oct 03, 2023
Submitted by: Rick Sinnott
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jan 25, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2023
Submitted by: neilpa
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jan 21, 2024
- 1 of 804
- next ›