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| Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) |
| Status: Widespread common to uncommon resident. |
| Flight Period(s): Three or more broods, with adults on the wing from spring to frost. There are Nebraska records from 2 April – 29 September. |
| Range: Initially a resident of Europe, this species was introduced into North America in about 1860, and now occupies all of the United States and much of Mexico and temperate Canada. It occurs statewide in Nebraska. |
| Larval Hostplant(s): Various wild Crucifers – Tower Mustard (Arabis glabra), Winter, Hoary and Water Cress (Barbarea vulgaris, Cardaria draba and Nasturnium officinale), Tower, Indian, Black and Tumbling Mustards (Brassica juncea, B. nigra and Sisymbrium altissimum), Flixweed (Descurainia sophia), Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis), and Peppergrass (Lepidium densiflorum) are cited as well as some ornamental and agricultural species including cabbage and cauliflower. |
| Overwinter: As pupae. |
| Commentary/Habitat: The Cabbage White thrives in urban, agricultural and disturbed areas where its hostplants thrive or are cultivated. It is less common in undisturbed wild areas. It is an early emerging spring species and is often one of the first butterflies sighted. |
| Similar Species: Checkered, Spring and Western Whites. |
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