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Cabbage Butterfly
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)

Common Name: Cabbage Butterfly

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Pieridae

Pest Status: Cabbage butterfly caterpillars can cause damage to garden vegetables.

Appearance: The wings of cabbage butterflies are white-green with black tips. There are two submarginal black spots in females, and one in males.

Life Cycle: Adults lay eggs on the undersides of leaves, where the larvae also feed. The butterflies overwinter as pupae and emerge in early spring.

Where to Collect: Eggs are laid on the plants of the mustard family (crucifers), particularly cabbage and broccoli plants. They also are attracted to dandelions and Luminaria flowers.