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 19426 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: Jim Lowe
Region: Essex County, Massachusetts, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jun 23, 2025
Observation date: Jun 19, 2025
Submitted by: mtobin11
Region: Lake County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jun 21, 2025
Observation date: Jun 15, 2025
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 17, 2025
Observation date: Jun 28, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 16, 2025
Observation date: Jun 14, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 15, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2025
Submitted by: david.eberly
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Jun 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 10, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Jun 10, 2025
Observation date: Jun 01, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Jefferson County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 08, 2025
Observation date: May 01, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jun 03, 2025
Observation date: May 15, 2025
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: May 31, 2025
Observation date: May 24, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2025
Observation date: May 13, 2025
Submitted by: pgrew1@unl.edu
Region: Penobscot County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 28, 2025
Observation date: May 24, 2025
Submitted by: Bob Jacobson
Region: Chippewa County, Wisconsin, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 26, 2025
Observation date: May 14, 2025
Submitted by: Bombyx-Aurelia
Region: Quebec, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 24, 2025
Observation date: May 19, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 19, 2025
Observation date: May 16, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: May 16, 2025
Observation date: May 15, 2025
Submitted by: jrtindall
Region: Mercer County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 16, 2025
Observation date: May 11, 2025
Submitted by: Ennis_delmar
Region: Wayne County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: May 15, 2025
Observation date: May 10, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 14, 2025
Observation date: May 13, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: May 13, 2025
Observation date: May 02, 2025
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 03, 2025
Observation date: Apr 24, 2025
Submitted by: pygmypiglet
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 27, 2025
Observation date: Apr 15, 2025
Submitted by: jmgesell
Region: Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 23, 2025
Observation date: Apr 14, 2025
Submitted by: david.eberly
Region: Delaware County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Apr 23, 2025
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