A White Butterfly in the Garden

The Large White Butterfly (Pieris brassicae) is one of the most common butterflies in our gardens and countryside. It belongs to the Pieridae family, which includes many white or yellow butterflies. Large and striking, it is easily recognizable by its white wings with black spots on the tips. This butterfly is one of the most important pollinators of wildflowers and cultivated plants!

The caterpillars , yellowish-green in color, are well known to gardeners and vegetable growers because they voraciously feed on cabbage —both wild and cultivated—as well as other similar plants.

Did you know?

Scientists have successfully tricked Large White butterflies into laying their eggs on unsuitable plants that cannot sustain the caterpillars. How? By spreading cabbage extracts on them! Like other butterfly species, Large Whites can detect the chemical compounds of the plants they feed on.

Photo Pixabay