Large White Butterfly

Description:

This familiar, strong-flying species is our largest white butterfly, and is often an unwelcome visitor to gardens because the caterpillars damage cabbages and other realated crops. Females are distinguished by two black spots and a black streak on the fore-wings. In both males and females, the undersides of the wings are yellowish with black flecking. The caterpillar grows up to 4 cm in length, and is generally pale green with black spots, with a yellow line along the back and one along each side.

Habitat:

The Large White butterfly’s habitat consists of large, open spaces, as well as farms and vegetable gardens, because of the availability of its food source. Some favored locations include walls, fences, tree trunks, and often their food plant, which is important for Large White survival since they need to have access to their food source for survival. They primarily hover around these locations, which should contain both wild and cultivated crucifer, as well as oil-seed rape, cabbages, and brussel sprouts.