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
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 19399 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 24, 2021
Submitted by: Al R
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 10, 2024
Observation date: Sep 07, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 07, 2024
Observation date: Aug 19, 2024
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Hawaii County, Hawaii, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 02, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Sep 01, 2024
Observation date: Aug 30, 2024
Submitted by: ButtahflyEtn37354
Region: Monroe County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 30, 2024
Observation date: Aug 29, 2024
Submitted by: regina rochefort
Region: Barnstable County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 29, 2024
Observation date: Aug 27, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 27, 2024
Observation date: Aug 25, 2024
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 26, 2024
Observation date: Aug 23, 2024
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 24, 2024
Observation date: Aug 19, 2024
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Rush County, Indiana, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 23, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Huron County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 20, 2024
Observation date: Aug 13, 2024
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Aug 19, 2024
Observation date: Jun 14, 2022
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2024
Submitted by: Team-Chick
Region: Virginia, York County, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 16, 2024
Observation date: May 26, 2023
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Wakulla County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Jun 29, 2013
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 14, 2024
Submitted by: Bob_1948
Region: Delaware County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 14, 2024
Observation date: Aug 10, 2024
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 11, 2024
Observation date: Aug 08, 2024
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Aug 08, 2024
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 08, 2024
Observation date: Aug 06, 2024
Submitted by: Vee
Region: Dutchess County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 06, 2024
Observation date: Sep 23, 2023
Submitted by: Gotrilobite
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Aug 04, 2024
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: pgericks
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 02, 2024
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