These butterflies can be seen flying in gardens from July to September. Their small green caterpillars are notorious for their preference of cabbages and their relatives.

Statistics
Wingspan: 45mm.

Physical description
A small white butterfly, occasionally pale yellow. Males have a single black spot on the forewings, females have two.

The caterpillars are green with yellow stripes on the back and sides.

Distribution
They inhabit Europe, north-west Africa and Asia. They have been introduced to North America and Australia.

Habitat
They inhabit gardens, meadows and fields.

Diet
The larvae feeds on plants in the mustard family (Cruciferae), including cabbage, mustard and cauliflower.

Behaviour
Adults can be seen from July to September.

Reproduction
This butterfly can have up to three generations in a single year but normally has only two. In autumn the final generation pupates and overwinters in chrysalis form, emerging as the first generation of butterflies in July of the following year.

Conservation status
Cabbage whites are not listed as endangered on IUCN Red List 2000.

Notes
Cabbage whites are native to Europe but have been introduced to North America where they are a serious pest of crops.