The cabbage white butterfly is widespread across Europe. It is active from May to August, and in southern regions from late March to mid-October. The forewings are white with dark tips at the base, and the wingspan ranges from 55 to 60 mm.
The cabbage butterfly inhabits large open areas, farms, and vegetable gardens. Preferred sites include walls, fences, tree trunks, and often the plants themselves. Its favored crops are cruciferous plants, oilseed rape, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.
They require additional nectar feeding before laying eggs. The larvae are capable of migrating long distances in search of food, colonizing neighboring areas.
Reproduction
Two generations of butterflies are produced each year. The first generation consists of adults that emerge in spring around April. The second generation appears around July. Occasionally, a third generation may emerge later in the summer if temperatures are warm enough.
The average fertility is 150 eggs, with a maximum of up to 300.
Eggs are laid in clusters on the underside of leaves. Development lasts between 4 and 16 days. Female cabbage butterflies lay eggs approximately 6–7 times over eight days. They can mate again about five or more days after a previous mating.
Females rely on visual signals, such as plant color, to decide where to lay their eggs, favoring green surfaces.
A few hours before hatching, the eggs turn black, the shell becomes transparent, and the larvae inside become visible.
Caterpillars hatch approximately one week after eggs are laid and initially live as a group. Hatching takes about two to seven hours. During this period, they inflict significant damage to the host plant by consuming and destroying it. During cooler times of the day, they may appear inactive or dormant.
Larvae are cylindrical, robust, and elongated in their final stage, yellow in color with bright pigmentation on the abdomen and thorax, and a grayish-black head. This stage requires maximum food quality and quantity for complete development; otherwise, the larva may die before becoming an adult butterfly.
Older caterpillars roughly skeletonize the leaves, leaving only thick veins. Their development lasts 13 to 38 days, depending on temperature, and they reach a length of 50–60 mm in their fifth and final stage.
Butterfly Morphology
The cabbage butterfly exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism.
