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 1 - 24 of 19585 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 12, 2025
Submitted by: NaturallyWade
Region: Aiken County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Apr 03, 2026
Observation date: Mar 29, 2026
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 29, 2026
Submitted by: LeptonGalaxy
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 25, 2026
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Mar 29, 2026
Observation date: Mar 23, 2026
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 29, 2026
Observation date: Mar 27, 2026
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 28, 2026
Observation date: Jun 10, 2024
Submitted by: Bookworm86
Region: Bedford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 23, 2026
Observation date: Mar 09, 2026
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Mar 23, 2026
Observation date: Mar 17, 2020
Submitted by: Mboater
Region: Amherst County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 09, 2021
Submitted by: Mary Hake
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 16, 2026
Observation date: Oct 17, 2025
Submitted by: MaryInArlington
Region: Henrico County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 16, 2026
Observation date: May 09, 2024
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Halifax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Mar 16, 2026
Observation date: Mar 07, 2026
Submitted by: Mzteachuh
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 07, 2026
Observation date: Feb 14, 2026
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 18, 2026
Observation date: Sep 01, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 02, 2026
Observation date: Aug 22, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Feb 02, 2026
Observation date: Jan 31, 2026
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 31, 2026
Observation date: Jan 07, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 25, 2026
Observation date: Aug 11, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 15, 2026
Observation date: Nov 17, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 06, 2026
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Jefferson County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jan 03, 2026
Observation date: Sep 07, 2025
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Madison County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jan 03, 2026
Observation date: May 07, 2025
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Lincoln County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jan 03, 2026
Observation date: Dec 28, 2025
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 29, 2025
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