# Cabbage White (*Pieris rapae*) The Cabbage White is a small white butterfly that loves to flutter around gardens. It often lays its eggs on cabbage plants! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 109 - **Habitat:** Gardens and farmland - **Also known as:** Imported Cabbageworm ![Cabbage White](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Pieris.rapae.mounted.jpg&width=800) Photo: Sarefo, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pieris.rapae.mounted.jpg) ## Appearance The Cabbage White is a medium-sized butterfly with creamy white wings. Its forewings often have one or two black spots and dark tips, especially in females. This pattern helps distinguish it from other pure white butterflies. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Pieridae - **Genus:** Pieris ## Interesting facts - Adult Cabbage Whites use their feet to taste if a plant is suitable for their babies. - Cabbage Whites have been accidentally introduced to many new countries by humans. - Their caterpillars are often called 'cabbage worms' because they love munching on plants like cabbage! - They lay tiny, torpedo-shaped eggs that often start yellow and turn gray. ## Special abilities - **Chemical Shield:** Cabbage White caterpillars can taste bad because they store mustard oils from plants, which helps them deter predators. - **Navigation Whiz:** Cabbage Whites can fly long distances to find new food sources and mates, helping them expand their range. - **Temperature Tuner:** Cabbage Whites can bask in the sun to warm up their bodies, allowing them to fly even on cooler days. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-60 mm - **Size:** 15-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-21 days - **Flight Speed:** 16 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Caterpillars munch on leaves of host plants, while adult butterflies sip sweet flower nectar. - **Age differences:** Larvae (caterpillars) feed exclusively on plant leaves, while adults feed on flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Brassica oleracea, Brassica rapa, Raphanus sativus, Clover nectar, Dandelion nectar, Thistle nectar - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cabbage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cabbage) (*Brassica oleracea*) — Caterpillars feed on leaves. - **Parasitizes:** Cabbage worm parasitic wasp (*Cotesia glomerata*) — Wasp larvae develop inside the caterpillar. - **Eaten by:** [House Sparrow](https://www.snappit.app/explore/house-sparrow) (*Passer domesticus*) — Birds commonly prey on butterflies. - **Pollinates:** [White Clover](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-clover) (*Trifolium repens*) — Adults drink nectar, helping pollination. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Cabbage White? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Cabbage White's wingspan? 45-60 mm ### How big is Cabbage White? 15-20 mm ### How long does Cabbage White live? 14-21 days ### How fast can Cabbage White fly? 16 km/h ### What does Cabbage White eat? Caterpillars munch on leaves of host plants, while adult butterflies sip sweet flower nectar. ### Where is Cabbage White usually found? Gardens and farmland ### How does Cabbage White hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Advance Mills](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/advance-mills) — Virginia, US · Neighborhood - [Albany Pine Bush](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/albany-pine-bush) — New York, US · Nature Reserve - [Blackstone Boulevard–Cole Avenue–Grotto Avenue Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/blackstone-boulevard-cole-avenue-grotto-avenue-historic-district) — Rhode Island, US · Historic District - [Bloomingdale](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bloomingdale) — District of Columbia, US · Neighborhood - [Brett Woods Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/brett-woods-open-space) — Connecticut, US · Park - [Cedarmere-Clayton Estates](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/cedarmere-clayton-estates) — New York, US · Historic District [View all places to see Cabbage White](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/cabbage-white) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Cabbage White: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cabbage-white)