Pieris rapae

Little Beauty Drops By

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Small White (Pieris rapae). Front garden, Staffordshire, England. Sunday April 2017.

04/1704/17 by Peter Hillman Categories: Animals, Animals (Invertebrates), Butterflies, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature Photography, Photography, Wildlife PhotographyTags: Butterflies, Butterfly, Insects, Lepidoptera, Macro, Macro Photography, Nature, Nature Photography, Photography, Pieris rapae, Small White, Small White Pieris rapae, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 9 Comments

Also called the ‘Small Cabbage White’, the upperside ground colour is creamy white with greyish wingtips, the male having the single greyish spot near the centre of the forewing, the female sporting two. Wingspan 50mm. Similar to Large White (Pieris brassicae).

The caterpillar feeds on cultivated brassicas, nasturtiums, and assorted wild crucifers and Wild Mignonette. The Small White can be even more of a pest than the Large White, yet it is affected by the same predators and parasites which helps to keep their numbers down.

The adults fly March to October in two or more broods. Found in flowery places of all kinds, especially gardens, allotments, and other cultivated land. Common and widespread. One of the world’s commonest butterflies and a strong migrant.

01/1701/17 by Peter Hillman Categories: Animals, Animals (Invertebrates), Butterflies, Insects, Macro Photography, Nature Photography, Photography, Wildlife PhotographyTags: Butterflies, Butterfly, Lepidoptera, Macro, Macro Photography, Nature, Nature Photography, Pieridae, Pieris rapae, Small Cabbage White, Small White, Wildlife, Wildlife Photography 18 Comments

Cabbage Butterfly

Photograph of Small White (Pieris rapae), taken May 2015, local woodland margin, Staffordshire. © Pete Hillman 2015. Camera used Nikon D3200, with Sigma 105mm macro lens.