Small White / Cabbage White Butterfly
Description: The Small White butterfly has white wings. The upperside of the wing has one black or grey spot on it’s forewing for the male and two for the female. There is also a black or grey patch on the tip of the forewing.
Size: The wingspan on the Small White is approximately 40-55mm.
Habitat: Meadows, gardens, hedgerows, allotments, parks, grassland and wasteland are home to the Small White butterfly.
Food: The Small White butterfly feeds on nectar particularly on plants with white flowers and the caterpillars feed on brassicas and garlic mustard.
Distribution: This species of butterfly can be found throughout the UK.
Months Seen: The Small White butterfly can be seen between April and October.
Did You Know?
- The Small White butterfly is commonly referred to as the Cabbage White.
- This butterfly is related to the Large White butterfly.
- The caterpillars are bright green with tiny black speckles and covered with fine hairs.
- The Small White caterpillar’s eggs are laid singly and gradually turn yellow.
Don’t they sneak in when you least expect it!!!
Comment by Libby — August 6, 2007 @ 2:56 pm
Hi Libby,
We get so many cabbage whites in the field margins and the veg garden.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — August 6, 2007 @ 4:00 pm
This is fascinating and erudite - but how do you keep them off your cabbages?
Comment by Mel Rimmer — August 6, 2007 @ 8:47 pm
Hi Mel,
Thanks for the compliment about the post.Topveg gave me a great tip about putting egg shells near the brassicas so that the butterflies think that the shell is another butterfly and they move away - abit like a scarecrow but an eggcrow!! Here is the link http://topveg.com/2007/07/31/how-to-protect-brassicas-from-cabbage-white-butterflies/ and here is another link with lots of help about pest control of cabbage white butterflies
http://topveg.com/2007/05/12/cabbage-white-butterfly/
Hope this helps.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — August 7, 2007 @ 8:05 am
I have never noticed the spots! These attack the purple sprouting broccoli every year grrrr..
Comment by Cottage Smallholder — August 7, 2007 @ 9:55 pm
Hi Fiona,
I had noticed the spots but didn’t realise there where different numbers to distinguish the gender. It’s all fascinating stuff!
Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Sara @ farmingfriends
Comment by Sara @ Farming Friends — August 9, 2007 @ 8:11 am
Help-
My daughter caught one of these ( at least I am pretty sure it is a cabbage white). It layed eggs and they hatched. Now I have lots of tiny little caterpillars. How can I be sure to take proper care of these so they grow into butterflies?
Comment by alicia — June 6, 2008 @ 11:17 pm