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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 19074 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 21, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jan 12, 2023
Observation date: Aug 20, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jan 07, 2023
Observation date: Jan 03, 2023
Submitted by: Denisefarley655
Region: Kane County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Jan 06, 2023
Observation date: Jul 12, 2020
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Whatcom County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jan 01, 2023
Observation date: Jun 26, 2020
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jan 01, 2023
Observation date: Aug 25, 2020
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: King County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jan 01, 2023
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Grant County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jan 01, 2023
Observation date: Aug 19, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Dec 26, 2022
Observation date: Aug 17, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Dec 13, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2022
Submitted by: Eric Hartshaw
Region: Summit County, Utah, United States
Verified by: RaisingButterfl...
Verified date: Dec 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 16, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Dec 05, 2022
Observation date: Aug 15, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Dec 02, 2022
Observation date: Aug 13, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Dec 02, 2022
Observation date: Oct 20, 2022
Submitted by: emilydodge
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 01, 2022
Observation date: Nov 11, 2022
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 11, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Aug 10, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 18, 2022
Observation date: Aug 07, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 17, 2022
Observation date: Aug 06, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 15, 2022
Observation date: Sep 17, 2022
Submitted by: mathgeek
Region: Jackson County, Illinois, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 14, 2022
Observation date: Aug 05, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 11, 2022
Observation date: Aug 04, 2022
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 09, 2022
Observation date: Sep 17, 2022
Submitted by: jasong9019
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 09, 2022
Observation date: Nov 06, 2022
Submitted by: bchensel
Region: Miami County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Nov 07, 2022
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