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Project Noah Nature School
Pieris rapae
Butterfly with upperside of wings white; forewing with black tip. Two submarginal black spots in female, one in male. Underside of hindwing and forewing apex evenly yellow-green or gray-green. Spring and fall short-day form is smaller, less yellow, with reduced black areas. Wing Span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/4 inches (4.5 - 5.8 cm).
Habitat is almost any type of open space including weedy areas, gardens, roadsides, cities, and suburbs. Range is from central Canada south through the United States (except Florida Keys, southern Louisiana, and South Texas) to northwest Mexico. This one was feeding on zinnia in a vegetable garden at the edge of deciduous woods in east-central Georgia.
Caterpillar Hosts: Many plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family and occasionally some in the caper family (Capparidaceae). Adult Food: Flower nectar from a very wide array of plants including mustards, dandelion, red clover, asters, and mints.
Spotted on Jul 7, 2013
Submitted on Jul 15, 2013
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