cabbage white
(Pieris rapae)
Conservation • Description • Habitat • Biology • Distribution • Taxonomy
Conservation Status |
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| IUCN Red List | not listed |
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| NatureServe | NNA - Not applicable SNA - Not applicable |
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| Minnesota | not listed |
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Description |
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Cabbage white is an exotic, small to medium-sized butterfly. It is native to Europe and Asia. It was introduced into Quebec in the 1860s. It has since become very common and in some areas abundant across North America. It is a crop pest. The upperside of the wings are white. There is a black spot in the middle of the forewing and a black or blackish wingtip. There is also a black spot near the middle of the leading margin of the hindwing. The female has an additional black spot on the forewing near the inner margin. The underside of the forewing is white with one (male) or two (female) black spots and a pale yellow wingtip. The underside of the hindwing is uniformly pale yellowish-green or grayish-green. |
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Size |
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Wingspan: 1¾″ to 2¼″ |
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Similar Species |
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| Mustard white (Pieris oleracea) has no black spots in the middle of the forewing. The veins on the underside of the hindwing are highlighted with yellowish-green or grayish-green. It is absent in the southern half of Minnesota. | ||
Habitat |
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Open or lightly wooded areas; gardens, roadsides, crop lands, urban areas. |
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Biology |
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Season |
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Three broods. Early May to late September. |
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Behavior |
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Life Cycle |
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Females lay single eggs on the underside of a host leaf. The pupa overwinters as a chrysalis. |
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Larva Hosts |
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Plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) and caper (Capparidaceae) families. |
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Adult Food |
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Flower nectar from mustard, dandelion, red clover, aster, and mint. |
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Distribution |
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Sources |
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| 10/5/2022 | ||||
Nativity |
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Native to Europe and Asia. Introduced and widely naturalized in North America. |
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Occurrence |
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Common to abundant and widespread; crop pest |
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Taxonomy |
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Order |
Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) | ||
Superfamily |
Papilionoidea (butterflies) | ||
Family |
Pieridae (whites, yellows and sulphurs) | ||
Subfamily |
Pierinae (whites) | ||
Tribe |
Pierini | ||
| Subtribe | Pierina | ||
Genus |
Pieris (garden whites) | ||
Subordinate Taxa |
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cabbage white (Pieris rapae atomaria) cabbage white (Pieris rapae crucivora) cabbage white (Pieris rapae eumorpha) cabbage white (Pieris rapae leucosoma) cabbage white (Pieris rapae mauretanica) cabbage white (Pieris rapae napi) cabbage white (Pieris rapae novangliae) cabbage white (Pieris rapae orientalis) cabbage white (Pieris rapae rapae) |
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Synonyms |
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Common Names |
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cabbage butterfly cabbage white imported cabbageworm (larva) small cabbage white |
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Glossary
Chrysalis
The pupa (third) stage of a butterfly or moth during which the caterpillar metamorphoses into an adult. In moths, the pupa is enclosed in a silk cocoon. In butterflies, the pupa is naked but protected by a hardened outer shell.
Visitor Photos |
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Alfredo Colon |
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Tom Baker |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos |
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Female |
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Slideshows |
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| Cabbage White DianesDigitals |
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About
Copyright DianesDigitals European Cabbage White Butterfly, Pieris rapae |
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| Pieris rapae (Cabbage White) Allen Chartier |
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| Cabbage White Andy Reago & Chrissy McClarren |
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Visitor Videos |
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Share your video of this insect. |
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Other Videos |
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| Cabbagewhite Butterfly --Pieris rapae-- Life Cycle FastPlants |
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About
Uploaded on Dec 13, 2011 Pieris rapae, also known as the Cabbagewhite or Brassica butterfly, completes its entire life cycle in this minimally-narrated video. Pieris rapae raised along with Wisconsin Fast Plants provide a rich example of interdependence and interrelatedness among organisms who share a habitat. For open access lessons and additional information about Pieris, visit the Wisconsin Fast Plant Program's website at www.fastplants.org and search our digital library under the "Activities" tab. |
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| Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieridae: Pieris rapae) Female on Leaf Carl Barrentine |
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About
Uploaded on Aug 6, 2011 Photographed on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River north of Red Wing, Minnesota (04 August 2011). Thank you to Kelly Fiegle (@Bugguide.net) for confirming the identity and identifying the sex of this specimen! |
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| Pieris rapae - gdoremi.altervista.org www.gdoremi.altervista.org |
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About
Published on Jan 3, 2013 Comunissima farfalla della famiglia delle Pieirdae |
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| Cabbage White Butterfly mylensview |
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About
Uploaded on Oct 8, 2011 Cabbage White Butterfly common in all North America |
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Visitor Sightings |
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Report a sighting of this insect. |
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| This button not working for you? Simply email us at info@MinnesotaSeasons.com. Be sure to include a location. |
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Alfredo Colon |
Location: Albany, NY |
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| Alfredo Colon 8/2/2022 |
Location: Albany, NY |
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings |
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Avon Hills Forest SNA, North Unit Bertram Chain of Lakes Regional Park Blazing Star Prairie Addition Preserve, South Unit Clifton E. French Regional Park Felton Prairie SNA, Bicentennial Unit Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park Minnesota Valley NWR, Long Meadow Lake Unit Minnesota Valley NWR, Rapids Lake Unit Minnesota Valley NWR, Wilkie Unit Mound Spring Prairie SNA, South Unit Pembina Trail Preserve SNA, Crookston Prairie Unit Prairie Creek WMA, Koester Prairie Unit Richard M. & Mathilde Rice Elliott SNA |
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