Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Common throughout North Carolina, Cabbage White is one of our most familiar garden butterflies. This species was introduced from Europe, as were many of the members of the cabbage family that they feed on. Compare with the native Checkered White, which is much rarer in NC.

Washington Co., NC 6/21/06.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

A male (right) is fluttering about the perched female.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Same female.

Alleghany Co., NC 9/3/06.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Cabbage Whites are common throughout the US.

Tualatin NWR, Sherwood, Washington Co., OR 7/29/06.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Orange Co., NC 10/6/02.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

The undersides are a creamy cabbage-green.

Mitchell Co., NC 7/6/02.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Caterpillars are green with a yellow stripe and peppered with small dots, matching well with the cabbage leaves they feed on.

Durham, NC 4/8/2012.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Durham, NC 4/8/2012.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

Durham, NC 4/8/2012.

All photographs and text ©2013 by Will Cook unless otherwise noted.