White Cabbage Butterfly

What's a Butterfly?
At best, He's but a caterpillar at rest.
                         John Gray

A common sight during the spring and summer is a butterfly aptly named the Cabbage White.  Although these simple little butterflies are not native to the United States, they have established a stronghold that would be the envy of a military strategist.  Originally from Europe, they were introduced into Canada, later making their way to the United States.

These insects are considered a pest by gardeners and farmers because of the caterpillar’s voracious appetite.  Perhaps their favorite repast is cabbage (of course) but they will happily dine on turnips, radishes, nasturtiums and mustard plants.  They will, in short order, strip a plant of all vegetation, leaving behind a skeletal remains of what was once your prized cabbage. 

The caterpillar is the master of disguise.  The green velvety color is almost an exact replica for the plants it so loves.  Once you've trained your eyes; spotting these little guys is easy.  Controlling the onslaught of these little munchers is another matter though.  It poses a dilemma for a butterfly lover; even these relatively plain creatures have a certain beauty.  In large numbers they can be almost breathtaking.  To have one land on your arm is a treat indeed.  On the other hand, I love cabbage too.  So the thought of these little beasts striping my crops bare is disturbing to say the least.  What to do?  Well....I follow the philosophy, "There is plenty for everyone." ( I always practice planting more than I will ever eat).  Therefore I have cabbage to enjoy and so do these tenacious beauties.  And if there happens to be any extra, friends and family benefit too.  Remember seeds are cheap, and the reward of watching these erratic little fliers are well worth it.

A common behavior of these butterflies is the "spiral flight." When a male shows interest in a female that has already mated, she indicates her lack of interest by rising into the air, the two butterflies circling each other, until the male loses interest and drops back to the ground.  The female will them slowly come back to the ground and resume her egg laying.

Once the eggs hatch, the hungry little caterpillars begin feeding immediately.  They eat and eat with an appetite matched only by my teenage son and his friends.  The caterpillar forms a cocoon, which resembles a green leaf curled with little spikes at the top.  After two weeks in the new little ‘home’, it will emerge as a weak, but beautiful, butterfly.  It may take several hours before she is strong enough for her maiden flight.  Once she takes to the air, the cycle of finding a mate and egg laying will start all over again. 

Cabbage White Butterflies are easily identified, simply because as their name suggests they are predominately white.  The edges of the forewings are black.  The female has two black spots on her wings;  the male has just one.  The bodies are black and the undersides of the wings are pale yellowish/green (caused from the mustard plant they consume as caterpillars) These butterflies belong to the order Lepidoptera and the family Pieridae.

The little Cabbage White butterfly, although far from her homeland, has established herself in my heart.  I imagine her being like so many of us and our ancestors, who have journeyed in search of a better life.  Perhaps she has found one here .  This spring as the days are getting longer and warmer be on the lookout for the white butterfly  as she passes through your yard looking for the host plants to deposit her eggs.  Just try not to smile when one visits you by landing on your arm.

(Story  and photo by Shelly Cox, FOLNC Volunteer)