Cabbage white (also called imported cabbageworm or cabbage butterfly) are white butterfly with darker wing tips and eyespots in the forewings.. The larvae feed primarily on brassica plants with some secondary hosts in related families, e.g. Capparidaceae, Resedaceae. P. rapae eggs are yellowish with 12 longitudinal ridges. The caterpillars are bluish-green in color with tiny black pints, a lateral row of yellow dashes and a yellow middorsal line. During the pupal stage the cabbage white is brown-grey or yellowish (matching the background).
Plant damage
While the adult cabbage white feeds on nectars of the plant, the larvae are voracious and feed on foliage. The larvae may reduce mature plants to stems and large veins. Larger larvae can also burrow into the heads of broccoli and cabbage. Larvae are difficult to dislodge, and may be missed during harvesting and plant preparation. Larvae produce a lot of fecal material which can also contaminate produce.
Natural Enemies
There are natural enemies of the cabbage white.
For more information contact your local BioBee field agent.
