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 19514 verified sightings
Observation date: Aug 01, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 31, 2025
Observation date: Aug 02, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 31, 2025
Observation date: Jul 30, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 30, 2025
Observation date: Jul 31, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 30, 2025
Observation date: Jul 28, 2025
Submitted by: RLS
Region: Monroe County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 29, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2025
Submitted by: Patricia12
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 25, 2025
Submitted by: Sophia Reyes
Region: San Mateo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Aug 28, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 26, 2025
Observation date: Jul 24, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 24, 2025
Observation date: Jul 23, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 23, 2025
Observation date: Jul 22, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 23, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Plumas County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 21, 2025
Observation date: Aug 29, 2016
Submitted by: beverlynantz
Region: Harlan County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Jul 21, 2025
Observation date: Jul 21, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 21, 2025
Observation date: Jul 20, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 19, 2025
Observation date: Jul 19, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 18, 2025
Observation date: Jul 15, 2025
Submitted by: Tom Dudones
Region: Franklin County, New York, United States
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 17, 2025
Observation date: May 01, 2025
Submitted by: DeerPark
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 16, 2025
Observation date: Jul 17, 2024
Submitted by: commentator
Region: Ontario, Canada
Verified by: jmgesell
Verified date: Jul 16, 2025
Observation date: Aug 18, 2021
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Union County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 25, 2021
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Somerset County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
Observation date: Jul 24, 2021
Submitted by: Daniel Morton
Region: Sussex County, New Jersey, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 15, 2025
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