Cabbage Butterfly: simple beauty, resilient, & adaptive.
Posted: Wed May 17, 2023 3:39 am
The ubiquitous Cabbage butterfly (Pieris rapae) remains
one of the best known and most often encountered butterflies.
Though, simple in appearance in lacking the "flash" or attractive
designs of most other butterflies; it still captures attention for
its presence.
Butterflies are loved by everyone and even people who rarely
see much of anything else in their flower garden appreciate
these fluttering white flower petals.
The species ranges over most of the northern hemisphere. As a
native of Europe it was accidentally introduced into Quebec, Canada
about 1860. From there it spread rapidly, and by 1881 it covered the
eastern half of the continent. Only 2 scant years later the first
specimen was found in California.
The success of the species here lies partially in that its larvae like
a lot of what we grow for ourselves. Favorite food plants are cabbage,
cauliflower, broccoli and other plants belonging to the mustard
family. Another favorite are nasturtium leaves. It is also a hearty
species; able to withstand the long demanding winters (as a chrysalis)
that the U.S./Canada have to offer.
It is one of the !st butterflies to emerge in spring. I have personally
recorded a specimen flying about my backyard (as early as Apr.01.2010);
while my (latest) sighting was (Oct.31.2014). Here in Illinois we probably
see 4 - 5 broods every year between those dates....
When I do see one of these early spring fellows it harkens me back
to my childhood when it was THIS species which I first saw in my fathers
flower garden. Its delicate, fluttering presence bobbing back and forth
amongst the blossoms and captivating my interest !
My early capture (this year) dates from (Apr.11.2023/11:57AM); although
my first sighting this year was on April 8th.
Although, the Cabbage butterfly is regarded as a pest species its presence
at the flower garden still brings a smile to many an older lady as well as
giggles/wonderment to children who first experiance them.
one of the best known and most often encountered butterflies.
Though, simple in appearance in lacking the "flash" or attractive
designs of most other butterflies; it still captures attention for
its presence.
Butterflies are loved by everyone and even people who rarely
see much of anything else in their flower garden appreciate
these fluttering white flower petals.
The species ranges over most of the northern hemisphere. As a
native of Europe it was accidentally introduced into Quebec, Canada
about 1860. From there it spread rapidly, and by 1881 it covered the
eastern half of the continent. Only 2 scant years later the first
specimen was found in California.
The success of the species here lies partially in that its larvae like
a lot of what we grow for ourselves. Favorite food plants are cabbage,
cauliflower, broccoli and other plants belonging to the mustard
family. Another favorite are nasturtium leaves. It is also a hearty
species; able to withstand the long demanding winters (as a chrysalis)
that the U.S./Canada have to offer.
It is one of the !st butterflies to emerge in spring. I have personally
recorded a specimen flying about my backyard (as early as Apr.01.2010);
while my (latest) sighting was (Oct.31.2014). Here in Illinois we probably
see 4 - 5 broods every year between those dates....
When I do see one of these early spring fellows it harkens me back
to my childhood when it was THIS species which I first saw in my fathers
flower garden. Its delicate, fluttering presence bobbing back and forth
amongst the blossoms and captivating my interest !
My early capture (this year) dates from (Apr.11.2023/11:57AM); although
my first sighting this year was on April 8th.
Although, the Cabbage butterfly is regarded as a pest species its presence
at the flower garden still brings a smile to many an older lady as well as
giggles/wonderment to children who first experiance them.