A "Cabbage White" or Two For Butterfly Day

I'll be showing you some photos today of a Cabbage White butterfly or two! The Cabbage White is one of the most common butterflies in America.

The Cabbage White aka Pieris rapae is a small to medium size butterfly in the white and yellow family Pieridae. They are called Cabbage Whites as they are typically found around cabbage plants and other plants of the mustard family.

They can be seen anytime between early Spring and late Autumn. Usually, when I see them, they flutter around fairly quickly and don't seem to sit still on the plants for very long.

If you are able to see the forewing then you may be able to tell if it is a male or female. The male has one black spot on the center of each forewing and the female has two spots on the center of each forewing.

If you've ever grown cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower and have found little green worms eating on and in them then chances are that it is the larvae from the Cabbage White. I know kinda gross but even though they are a pretty butterfly, they are considered a pest in many areas. I grew broccoli one year and, it was a fine "looking" crop if I do say so myself, but when I steamed it I found worms in the water. Luckily, I hadn't eaten it yet and upon further inspection found that the inside of the stalks were heavily laden with them. It was just a small garden and I didn't plant much broccoli. That was the first and last time I planted it too! I still love broccoli but it took me a while to eat it again. My father-in-law relayed a similar experience he had with broccoli but could not figure out where the worms came from so I told him that they were probably up in the stalk. He bought his at the grocery store so now I check the grocery store broccoli a little closer as well..lol.

Not to turn anyone off from broccoli as sometimes one can even find a big caterpillar inside the husk of corn on the cob. It is what it is. Some stores allow you to take the husk off in the store or have it for sale with the husk already taken off. I still eat corn on the cob and I still eat broccoli. I do, however, look at the Cabbage White butterfly a little differently now. I still think they are pretty but prefer not to see them anywhere near my garden! 😉

Thank you @whatisnew for #butterflyday!!
Thank you @melinda010100 for #shadowphoto!!