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 19660 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 20, 2026
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Multnomah County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 13, 2026
Observation date: Jul 13, 2026
Submitted by: Graycatbird88
Region: Rockland County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 13, 2026
Observation date: Jul 12, 2026
Submitted by: Emma Heim
Region: Stearns County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 12, 2026
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 11, 2026
Observation date: Jul 07, 2026
Submitted by: seemayer
Region: Riley County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 11, 2026
Observation date: Jul 09, 2026
Submitted by: Rgilson
Region: Schoolcraft County, Michigan, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Jul 10, 2026
Observation date: Jul 18, 2020
Submitted by: Mboater
Region: Bedford County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: Alberta, Canada
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Apr 10, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Fairfax County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Jun 11, 2026
Submitted by: Mboater
Region: Amherst County, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Jul 09, 2026
Observation date: Jul 08, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jul 08, 2026
Observation date: May 11, 2026
Submitted by: debborahm12
Region: Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States
Verified by: talusrutgers
Verified date: Jul 08, 2026
Observation date: Jun 27, 2026
Submitted by: jkarthei
Region: Johnson County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 08, 2026
Observation date: Jul 01, 2026
Submitted by: mikeminium
Region: Butler County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jul 06, 2026
Observation date: Jul 03, 2026
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 04, 2026
Observation date: Jun 18, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 03, 2026
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 30, 2026
Observation date: Jun 29, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 29, 2026
Observation date: Aug 09, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 29, 2026
Observation date: Jun 23, 2026
Submitted by: naj.pilla
Region: Woodbury County, Iowa, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 27, 2026
Observation date: Jun 17, 2026
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: Lexington County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 27, 2026
Observation date: Jun 25, 2026
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Wood County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Jun 26, 2026
Observation date: Jun 20, 2026
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Racine County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 25, 2026
Observation date: Aug 07, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 24, 2026
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