Invertebrates
Cabbage White
Pieris rapae · also called cabbage whites, small white, imported cabbageworm
In a suburban vegetable garden, a cabbage white flutters between rows of broccoli and kale, the plain white wings of this accidentally introduced species now one of the most familiar sights in gardens across nearly the entire North American continent.
Overview
The cabbage white, Pieris rapae, is a small, plain-winged butterfly now found across nearly the entire North American continent, from southern Canada through the United States and into Mexico, following its accidental introduction from Europe in the 19th century. Its remarkable success as an introduced species, well-known caterpillar pest status on garden brassicas, and tolerance for urban and disturbed habitat make it one of the most widespread and commonly encountered butterflies on the continent.
An accidental introduction that never looked back
Few introduced insects have settled into a new continent as thoroughly as the cabbage white, which spread from a single 19th-century introduction into one of the most commonly seen butterflies across the whole of North America.
Status
Least Concern — abundant and stable across nearly all of North America, with agricultural attention focused on managing it as a crop pest rather than any conservation concern.
Cabbage White: common questions
Is the cabbage white native to North America?
No, this species was accidentally introduced from Europe in the 19th century, and it has since spread successfully across nearly the entire North American continent, becoming one of the most widespread and commonly encountered butterflies despite its non-native origin.
Why is the cabbage white considered a garden pest?
This species' caterpillar, often called the imported cabbageworm, feeds on cabbage, broccoli, kale, and other garden brassicas, and because the species produces several generations each growing season, populations can build up quickly and cause significant damage to unprotected crops if left unmanaged.
How can you identify a cabbage white?
Look for plain white wings marked with one or two small black spots, a simple, easily recognised pattern, combined with the species' tendency to turn up readily in gardens, farmland, and other disturbed or urban habitat across nearly the entire North American continent.
Why has the cabbage white spread so successfully across North America?
This species tolerates human-altered landscapes, including gardens, farmland, and urban areas, better than many native butterfly species, and because it produces multiple generations each year and its caterpillar can feed on a variety of widely cultivated brassica crops, it has been able to establish and spread rapidly since its accidental introduction.