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  3. Cabbage White

Cabbage White

Pieris rapae

Summary 6

The Small White (Pieris rapae) is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the Yellows-and-Whites family Pieridae. It is also known as the Small Cabbage White and in New Zealand, simply as White Butterfly. The names "Cabbage Butterfly" and "Cabbage White" can also refer to the Large White.

General description 7

This is the only species of white which has both unmarked hindwing undersides and at least one black spot on the forewing upperside and the leading edge of the hindwing upperside. Royal Alberta Museum page

Description 8

Size: 46-55 mm. A small version of Pieris brassicae.

Distribution 9

The Cabbage White was introduced from Europe to Quebec in the 1860's (Layberrry et al. 1998), and has since spread over all of North America with the exception of the Arctic and some of the extreme southern parts of the U.S. (Opler 1999).

Habitat 10

Ubiquitous throughout the province, particularly near agricultural habitats.

Migration 11

Non-Migrant: No. All populations of this species make significant seasonal migrations.

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make local extended movements (generally less than 200 km) at particular times of the year (e.g., to breeding or wintering grounds, to hibernation sites).

Locally Migrant: No. No populations of this species make annual migrations of over 200 km.

Flowering plants visited by pieris rapae in illinois 12

Pieris rapae Linnaeus: Pieridae, Lepidoptera
(observations are from Robertson, Graenicher, Wiggam & Ferguson, Betz et al., Hilty, Lewis, Catling, Larson & Barrett, Conger, and Willson & Bertin; this butterfly is the Cabbage White)

Acanthaceae: Justicia americana sn (Rb, Cng); Apiaceae: Sium suave sn (Rb); Asclepiadaceae: Asclepias incarnata [plpr sn] plup sn, Asclepias verticillata [plab sn] plup sn fq; Asteraceae: Anthemis cotula sn (Gr), Arctium lappa sn (Gr), Arctium minus sn (Rb), Aster anomalus sn (Rb), Aster drummondii sn (Gr), Aster ericoides sn (Rb), Aster furcatus sn (Gr), Aster laevis sn (Gr), Aster lanceolatus sn (Rb, Gr), Aster lateriflorus sn (Gr), Aster novae-angliae sn (Gr), Aster pilosus sn (Rb, H), Aster prenanthoides sn (Gr), Aster puniceus sn (Gr), Bidens aristosa sn (Rb), Bidens bipinnata sn (Rb), Boltonia asterioides sn (Rb), Cirsium altissimum sn (Gr), Cirsium arvense sn (Gr), Coreopsis palmata sn (Rb), Echinacea purpurea sn (Rb), Eupatoriadelphus purpureus sn (Rb, Gr), Eupatorium perfoliatum sn (Gr), Eupatorium serotinum sn (Rb), Euthamia graminifolia sn (Gr), Helenium autumnale sn (Gr), Helianthus annuus sn (Rb), Helianthus giganteus sn (Gr), Helianthus strumosus sn (Gr), Leucanthemum vulgare sn (Lw), Liatris aspera sn (H), Liatris pycnostachya sn (Rb), Liatris spicata sn (Gr), Oligoneuron rigidum sn (H), Rudbeckia hirta sn (Rb), Silphium integrifolium sn (H), Silphium perfoliatum sn (Rb), Vernonia fasciculata sn (Rb); Boraginaceae: Buglossoides arvense sn (H), Lithospermum canescens sn (Rb); Brassicaceae: Barbarea vulgaris sn (H, Lw), Cardamine bulbosa sn (Rb); Campanulaceae: Lobelia spicata sn (Rb), Triodanis perfoliata sn (Rb, Lw); Caryophyllaceae: Stellaria media sn (Lw); Fabaceae: Crotalaria sagittalis sn np (Rb), Lotus corniculatus sn np (Lw), Trifolium pratense sn (Rb, Lw), Trifolium repens sn (Rb, Lw); Fumariaceae: Dicentra cucullata sn np (Rb); Lamiaceae: Agastache nepetoides sn (Rb), Blephilia ciliata sn (Rb), Blephilia hirsuta sn (Rb), Glechoma hederacea sn np (Rb), Mentha arvensis sn (Rb), Nepeta cataria sn (Rb), Prunella vulgaris sn (Rb, Lw), Pycnanthemum pilosum sn (H), Pycnanthemum tenuifolium sn (Rb), Scutellaria incana sn np (H), Teucrium canadense sn (Cng); Liliaceae: Allium cernuum sn (Gr), Erythronium albidum sn (Rb), Nothoscordum bivalve sn (Rb), Smilacina stellata sn (Gr), Tofieldia glutinosa sn (Gr); Lythraceae: Lythrum alatum sn (Rb); Malvaceae: Abutilon theophrastii sn (Rb), Hibiscus trionum sn (Rb), Malva neglecta sn (Rb), Sida spinosa sn fq (Rb); Melastomataceae: Rhexia virginica exp np (LBt); Orchidaceae: Spiranthes lacera sn np (Ct); Oxalidaceae: Oxalis corniculata sn (Rb), Oxalis stricta sn (Rb, Lw); Papaveraceae: Sanguinaria canadensis exp (Gr); Parnassiaceae: Parnassia glauca sn (Gr); Polemoniaceae: Phlox divaricata laphamii sn (WF); Polygonaceae: Fallopia scandens sn (Rb), Persicaria pensylvanica sn (Rb); Portulacaceae: Claytonia virginica sn (Rb); Rosaceae: Fragaria virginiana sn (Rb), Potentilla argentea sn (Lw), Potentilla recta sn (Lw); Rubiaceae: Cephalanthus occidentalis sn (Rb), Houstonia lanceolata sn (Rb); Scrophulariaceae: Agalinis tenuifolia sn np (Rb), Dasistoma macrophylla sn np (Rb), Linaria vulgaris sn np (Rb), Veronicastrum virginicum sn (Rb); Verbenaceae: Verbena stricta sn fq (Rb, H), Verbena urticifolia sn (Rb); Violaceae: Viola cucullata sn (Rb), Viola pedata sn (Rb)
Insect activities:
exp = explores the flower, but acquires neither nectar nor pollen
fq = frequent flower visitor (about 6 or more visits reported)
np = non-pollinating
sn = sucks nectar

Scientific observers:
(Btz) = Robert Betz et al.
(Cng) = Allen C. Conger
(Ct) = P.M. Catling
(Gr) = S. Graenicher
(H) = John Hilty
(LBt) = Larson & Barrett
(Lw) = Alcinda C. Lewis
(Rb) = Charles Robertson
(WB) = Willson & Bertin
(WF) = Shelly Wiggam & Carolyn Ferguson

Behaviour 13

Adults feed mainly from nectar and mud. Males patrol for females (Scott, 1986).

Conservation status 14

Not of concern.

Threats 15

Degree of Threat: D : Unthreatened throughout its range, communities may be threatened in minor portions of the range or degree of variation falls within natural variation

Taxonomy 16

Comments: Palaearctic species complex member.

Sources and Credits

  1. (c) Eran Finkle, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://www.flickr.com/photos/32611380@N06/3746247839
  2. (c) Stephen Durrenberger, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7104/7174004843_fa89e281f9_b.jpg
  3. (c) Stanislav Krejčík, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/69201.jpg
  4. (c) Valter Jacinto, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), https://s.yimg.com/pw/images/en-us/photo_unavailable_l.png
  5. (c) Stanislav Krejčík, some rights reserved (CC BY), https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/69202.jpg
  6. (c) Wikipedia, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieris_rapae
  7. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884599
  8. (c) Bibliotheca Alexandrina, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA), http://eol.org/data_objects/15642630
  9. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884598
  10. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884600
  11. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28745836
  12. (c) John Hilty, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/32697751
  13. (c) Leslie Ries, some rights reserved (CC BY), http://eol.org/data_objects/17780210
  14. (c) University of Alberta Museums, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/31884596
  15. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28745830
  16. (c) NatureServe, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), http://eol.org/data_objects/28745825

More Info

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(c) Discover Life and original sources, some rights reserved (CC-BY-NC-SA)

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