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TranslatePieris brassicae
Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus, 1758) commonly known as the “Cabbage White” and “Large White”
Family: Pieridae
Wingspan male: 58mm Female: 63mm
Females lay eggs (up to a hundred at a time) anytime between March to October, most eggs are laid during July and August coinciding with mature crops of brassica. The eggs are a yellowish colour and are mainly laid during the day on the underside of brassicae leaves, where they will hatch within fourteen days. After about four weeks the caterpillars leave the food plant and will find a suitable place to pupate. Early broods will emerge as butterflies within fourteen days, later broods will over winter as a chrysalis, emerging in March or April.
The caterpillars are frequently parasitised by the small Ichneumon wasp, “Apanteles glomeratus.”
This species is closely related to Pieris rapae the “Small White”, both being serious pests to farmers and all growers of brassica crops, as they can decimate crops of cabbages in a very short time.
Females differ from males by the two black spots and a black dash like markings on the upper wings. Note: markings differ between spring and summer broods, the latter have more pronounced black markings where the spring broods’ markings tend to be more on the grey side.
“The Large White,” can be found in a wide range of habitats, favouring open spaces containing both wild and cultivated crucifer also oil seed rape. In farmlands and vegetable gardens, so always being close to a food source.
Widespread across the British Isles, including Orkney and the Shetlands. Also found throughout most of Europe, North Africa, Asia and in vast areas of the sub-tropical world.
Read MoreFamily: Pieridae
Wingspan male: 58mm Female: 63mm
Females lay eggs (up to a hundred at a time) anytime between March to October, most eggs are laid during July and August coinciding with mature crops of brassica. The eggs are a yellowish colour and are mainly laid during the day on the underside of brassicae leaves, where they will hatch within fourteen days. After about four weeks the caterpillars leave the food plant and will find a suitable place to pupate. Early broods will emerge as butterflies within fourteen days, later broods will over winter as a chrysalis, emerging in March or April.
The caterpillars are frequently parasitised by the small Ichneumon wasp, “Apanteles glomeratus.”
This species is closely related to Pieris rapae the “Small White”, both being serious pests to farmers and all growers of brassica crops, as they can decimate crops of cabbages in a very short time.
Females differ from males by the two black spots and a black dash like markings on the upper wings. Note: markings differ between spring and summer broods, the latter have more pronounced black markings where the spring broods’ markings tend to be more on the grey side.
“The Large White,” can be found in a wide range of habitats, favouring open spaces containing both wild and cultivated crucifer also oil seed rape. In farmlands and vegetable gardens, so always being close to a food source.
Widespread across the British Isles, including Orkney and the Shetlands. Also found throughout most of Europe, North Africa, Asia and in vast areas of the sub-tropical world.
