Pieris brassicae

Large White
Butterfly

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Classification:

Phylum:

Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class: Insecta (Insects)
Subclass: Pterygota (Winged Insects)
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Sub-Order: Rhopalocera (Butterflies)
Family: Pieridae (Whites)
Genus: Pieris
Species: brassicae
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Pieris brassicae

The Large White is noticeably bigger than our other white butterflies. The forewing is white with black tips, and the hindwing is white. The female has two black spots on the forewing. The underside of the hind wing is pale yellow, and the underside of the forewing is white with two black spots and a yellow tip.

The Large White is also known as the Cabbage White because it lays its eggs on cabbage plants and the caterpillars can destroy a crop. As well as cabbages and other members of the cabbage family, the caterpillars also eat Nasturtium plants (Tropaeolum majus) in gardens.

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