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 25 - 48 of 19560 verified sightings
Observation date: Sep 11, 2025
Submitted by: Varn
Region: Jefferson County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 21, 2025
Observation date: Sep 16, 2025
Submitted by: Hank and Karen
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Sep 21, 2025
Observation date: Sep 18, 2025
Submitted by: AzarNick
Region: Pettis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 18, 2025
Observation date: Sep 08, 2025
Submitted by: flyinganvil
Region: Missoula County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 16, 2025
Observation date: Sep 06, 2025
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Mississippi County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 09, 2025
Observation date: Sep 06, 2025
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Mississippi County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 09, 2025
Observation date: Sep 04, 2025
Submitted by: Lisa McClendon
Region: Mississippi County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Sep 01, 2025
Submitted by: FunnyValentine
Region: Daviess County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Sep 02, 2025
Submitted by: Ukiyoe
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Sep 03, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 30, 2025
Observation date: Jun 24, 2025
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2025
Submitted by: tiki33wv
Region: Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: Aug 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 24, 2025
Submitted by: jwsformo
Region: Genesee County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 26, 2025
Observation date: Aug 24, 2025
Submitted by: KittynNM
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 26, 2025
Observation date: Aug 24, 2025
Submitted by: psmith
Region: Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 25, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: Sometimes
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 24, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2025
Submitted by: Luna-Linuche.76
Region: Klamath County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 20, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: John Terpstra
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 18, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: vvryabyy
Region: Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States
Verified by: davidwright
Verified date: Aug 16, 2025
Observation date: Aug 15, 2025
Submitted by: Emma Heim
Region: Stearns County, Minnesota, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 15, 2025
Observation date: Aug 13, 2025
Submitted by: LittleWoodSatyr
Region: Defiance County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Aug 27, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Sep 10, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
Observation date: Sep 11, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Aug 13, 2025
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