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 19560 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 03, 2025
Submitted by: MilissaSutton_
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 04, 2025
Observation date: Oct 21, 2025
Submitted by: MilissaSutton_
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 04, 2025
Observation date: Jul 02, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 26, 2025
Observation date: Nov 13, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 17, 2025
Observation date: Jun 30, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 16, 2025
Observation date: Jun 29, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Nov 10, 2025
Observation date: Sep 21, 2025
Submitted by: Nilesh Shah
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 28, 2025
Observation date: Sep 21, 2025
Submitted by: Nilesh Shah
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Oct 28, 2025
Observation date: Jul 22, 2025
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 29, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 04, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: Stujo4
Region: Sedgwick County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2025
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 08, 2025
Submitted by: Colleen K
Region: Robertson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 15, 2025
Submitted by: Snellzy
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Oct 21, 2025
Submitted by: syrupsss
Region: Knox County, Maine, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Oct 22, 2025
Observation date: Sep 07, 2016
Submitted by: lewis flynn
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 19, 2025
Observation date: Oct 05, 2025
Submitted by: Hank and Karen
Region: Grant County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 09, 2025
Observation date: Sep 29, 2025
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Contra Costa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 02, 2025
Observation date: Sep 23, 2025
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Oct 02, 2025
Observation date: Aug 12, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Oct 01, 2025
Observation date: Sep 25, 2025
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 28, 2025
Observation date: Sep 26, 2025
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Scott County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 27, 2025
Observation date: Sep 15, 2025
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Sep 25, 2025
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