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Cabbage Butterfly adult
(John Obermeyer, Purdue University)
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Common Name: Cabbage Butterfly - adult
See also: larva | damage

Scientific Name: Pieridae: Pieris rapae

Status: pest of vegetable crops

Damaging Stage: caterpillar

Biology: The wings of cabbage butterflies are white-green with black tips. There are two submarginal black spots in females and one in males. The butterflies overwinter as pupae and emerge in early spring. There is one generation per year.

Caterpillars are called cabbageworms. They are green with a yellow stripe down the middle of the back and are approximately 1¼ inches long. They have four pairs of prolegs in addition to three pairs of legs near the head.