Page 136 - The Book of Caterpillars: A Life-Size Guide to Six Hundred Species From Around the World

BUTTERFLY CATERPILLARS

FAMILY Pieridae
DISTRIBUTION Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, Australia, and New Zealand
HABITAT All open habitats, especially disturbed areas, croplands,
gardens, and parks
HOST PLANTS Native and commercial crucifers (Brassica spp.)

NOTE Most economically damaging butterfly caterpillar pest
in the world
CONSERVATION STATUS Not evaluated, but widespread and common

ADULT WINGSPAN
1¾–2 in (45–50 mm)
CATERPILLAR LENGTH
1³∕₁₆ in (30 mm)
PIERIS RAPAE
CABBAGE WHITE
134
(LINNAEUS, 1758)

Cabbage White caterpillars hatch from eggs laid singly on the
underside of host plant leaves; a Cabbage White female lays
up to 750 eggs in a lifetime. The larvae develop rapidly, taking
15 to 20 days from egg hatch to pupation. Most—85 percent—
of their consumption of host plant leaves occurs in the final instar.

Young caterpillars make holes in leaves, while older individuals
eat leaves from the edge. There are five instars and no nests are

made. When temperatures are cool and day lengths less than
13 hours, the developing caterpillars produce diapausing pupae
that overwinter.

Parasitic wasps are important regulators of Cabbage White

populations, parasitizing caterpillars and pupae. Camouflage
helps protect the caterpillars. They also secrete droplets from
their setae that deter ants but may attract wasps. Cabbage
Whites are found mostly in disturbed urban and agricultural
environments and are much less common in wilderness and
Actual size other undisturbed areas.

The Cabbage White caterpillar is green,
peppered with tiny, black setae with a distinct
yellow middorsal line. On each segment there
are ten small, white protuberances, each bearing
a short, pale seta with a droplet. A yellow dash
occurs on each segment near the spiracle. The
head is green with many small setae. The true
legs and prolegs are also green.