| Small White (Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758)) |
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Scientific name: Pieris rapae (Linnaeus, 1758) Common name: Small White French name: Piéride de la rave Order: Lepidoptera Suborder: Rhopalocera Family: Pieridae Subfamily: Pierinae Wingspan: 46-55 mm Biotope: Cultivated cabbage rows, but also in various habitats such as parks in town or in the country. Geographic area: All Europe (less common in Northern Scandinavia). Asia to Japan, North-west Africa. It was also introduced to North America and Australia. Flight time: March to September. Number of generations : 2-3 Caterpillar: Green with a thin yellow dorsal line and small pairs of yellowish spots on each side. The anterior spot of each pair shows a black central dot. The body is covered with short hair. Host plant: Many plants especially crucifers: Cultivated Cabbage and Wild Cabbage (Brassica oleracea), Radish, Turnip (Brassica rapa), Mustard, Water Cress, Nasturtium (Tropaeoleum majus), and Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea). |
Small White differs from Large White by the greyish marks on the upperside of the wings and by its smaller wingspan size. The upperside of the forewings is white or yellowish-white with black tips. Females have two black spots on the upperside of each forewing, males have only one. There is also one black spot on the front upperside margin of the hindwings. The underside of the forewing is white with a yellowish apex and two black discal spots. The underside of the hindwing is pale yellow. The Small White overwinters as a pupa. |
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Many Small Whites are attracted to the flowers growing on the Ardèche river banks. I do not think they gather here in large group to see the hundreds canoes passing down on the river. |
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Waiting for a picture on which we can see the butterfly's head … |
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Another butterfly gathering nectar on Lavender in my garden! |
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You just need to wait near Lavender flowers and you will see Meadow Browns, Gatekeepers, Large Whites, Green-veined Whites and, like here, Small Whites. You can do this during the night too, but you will see moths. |
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A ring of Small Whites, on the ground, near the Ardèche river banks. |
André Bon July 2009