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 Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

3/26/2014

1 Comment

 
I found this Cabbage White at local business clinging to an inside window.  There is still  snow on the ground so I decided to take it home and feed it. Hopefully it will survive long enough so it can be released outdoors if it ever warms up.
Picture
Identification: Upperside of wings white; forewing with black tip. Two submarginal black spots in female, one in male.  Underside of hindwing and forewing apex evenly yellow-green or gray-green.  Spring and fall short-day form is smaller, less yellow, with reduced black  areas.

Wing Span:
1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches (4.5 - 5.8 cm).  

Life History: Males patrol for females. Females lay single eggs on undersides of host leaves.  Chrysalids hibernate.

 Flight: Two to three in northern part of range; 7-8 in the south. It is usually the first butterfly to emerge in spring.   

Adult Food: Flower nectar from a very wide array of plants including mustards, dandelion, red clover, asters, and mints. 
1 Comment
Carl Barrentine link
3/26/2014 12:50:32 pm

Nice photo, Sharon! Great information, too!

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