You’ve seen them in your garden, fluttering like confetti across the kale and broccoli. That pale insect flitting around your vegetables? That white butterfly is most likely Pieris rapae , better known as the cabbage white butterfly.

This species isn’t just a harmless pollinator. It has a voracious larval stage that makes it a top-tier pest in home gardens across the globe.

What Is a White Butterfly?

The cabbage white, or small white, belongs to a genus of butterflies called Pieris . Native to Europe, it has spread worldwide.

You can identify this species by its off-white wings with one or two black spots, depending on sex. Females have two black spots; males have one. The underside is a muted greenish or yellowish tone that helps it hide on the underside of leaves.

There’s also

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