Small White

What it is

Pieris rapae, the small white, is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the whites-and-yellows 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. The butterfly can be distinguished by the white color with small black dots on its wings. They are further distinguished by the smaller size and lack of the...

Where and when to find it

Habitat

You can find Small Whites all across the United States in gardens, farms, open fields, and grasslands.

How to find it

Look for them fluttering slowly over flowers or resting on leaves in sunny spots. They are quite common!

Best time of day

Daytime, especially sunny periods; spring through fall.

How it lives

What it eats

Flower nectar; caterpillars eat cabbage and other plants.

What eats it

Birds, spiders, lizards, and other insects.

Worth knowing

• The male has one spot on each wing, and the female has two.
• Their caterpillars love to eat cabbage and broccoli plants.
• They are sometimes seen in large groups during migration.
• They lay their eggs on the underside of plant leaves.
• They are originally from Europe but are now found worldwide.
• Their scientific name, 'rapae,' comes from 'rape' (a type of cabbage).

Why it matters

Small Whites are pollinators, sipping nectar from various flowers. Their caterpillars are a food source for some birds.