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 49 - 72 of 19295 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 27, 2023
Submitted by: Kalehua
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 01, 2023
Observation date: Oct 16, 2023
Submitted by: Kalehua
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 30, 2023
Observation date: Nov 29, 2023
Submitted by: Kalehua
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 30, 2023
Observation date: Oct 07, 2023
Submitted by: ElizabethP
Region: San Francisco County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 30, 2023
Observation date: Nov 22, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 23, 2023
Observation date: Sep 29, 2023
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 21, 2023
Observation date: Nov 13, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: Nov 16, 2023
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2023
Observation date: May 28, 2023
Submitted by: Gordon Phillips
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Nov 12, 2023
Observation date: Nov 09, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Jun 16, 2023
Submitted by: kericson
Region: Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 09, 2023
Observation date: Sep 18, 2023
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Sep 18, 2023
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Sep 18, 2023
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Custer County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 06, 2023
Observation date: Oct 08, 2023
Submitted by: quinn_rose
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 31, 2023
Observation date: Oct 31, 2023
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 31, 2023
Observation date: Oct 26, 2023
Submitted by: tylerjkrul
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2023
Observation date: Oct 18, 2023
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 28, 2023
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 21, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 06, 2023
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 23, 2023
Observation date: Oct 05, 2023
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2023
Observation date: Oct 01, 2023
Submitted by: Mapper
Region: Champaign County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 05, 2023
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