(Pieris rapae)
Whites
Appearance: White above with gray patches at wingtips and either one (male) or two (female) black spots in middle of forewing. Underneath it has a white forewing and a hindwing unmarked and mostly gray-white or pale yellow. It is one of our most common and widespread butterflies.
Wingspan: Medium; 1 1/2 to 2 inches.
Habitat: Common in open weedy areas, mountain meadows, streamsides and gardens; plains, foothills, montane.
Flight Times: March through September; three or more broods. Chrysalis of last brood overwinters.
Larval Foodplant: Wild and cultivated Mustard family plants including parsley and cress species.
Did You Know…
Introduced into Quebec, Canada in about 1860, it has spread coast to coast and its caterpillars can cause economic damage to crops such as cabbage, broccoli, and collards in gardens (Opler, 1999).
