Pieris brassicae
Pieris brassicae is the large white, or cabbage white butterfly. Its caterpillars feed on the leaves of different kinds of cabbage. The imagines (butterflies) have a wingspan of about 60 millimetres (2.4 in).
- (MHNT) Pieris brassicae - Ste.Foy d'Aigrefeuille Haute-Garonne France - male dorsal.jpg
Pieris brassicae ♂
Pieris brassicae ♂ △
- (MHNT) Pieris brassicae - Foret de Bouconne, France - female dorsal.jpg
Pieris brassicae ♀
- (MHNT) Pieris brassicae - Foret de Bouconne, France - female ventral.jpg
Pieris brassicae ♀ △
| Large white | |
|---|---|
| File:Large White. Pieris brassicae - Flickr - gailhampshire (1).jpg | |
| Male | |
| File:Large white spread wings.jpg | |
| Female | |
Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Genus: | Pieris |
| Species: | P. brassicae
|
| Binomial name | |
| Pieris brassicae | |
| Synonyms | |
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The cabbage white is a common butterfly that occurs from North Africa up to Fennoscandia. There are two to three generations a year, usually Spring to Autumn.
The butterfly has been classified as a pest because, of course, its caterpillars eat cabbages.[1] Sometimes, Cotesia glomerata, a parasitic wasp, is used as a means of biological pest control.
The butterflies are distasteful to birds because of the mustard-oil glucosides the larvae eat.[2][3] This oil has a distinctive pungent taste. It is in all plants in the mustard family, Brassicaceae (for example, cabbage, cauliflower, turnip, radish, horseradish, or wasabi).
Their white colour is easily seen, and probably acts as a warning sign.
Pieris Brassicae Media
- Pieris brassicae eggs, groot koolwitje eitjes (2).jpg
Eggs of the large white on the underside of the cauliflower leaf
- Large White Caterpillars on Nasturtium leaves.JPG
Large white caterpillars on garden nasturtium leaves
- Large White Chrysalis, under house eaves.JPG
Large white chrysalis, under house eaves
- Caterpillars and eggs of Large White butterfly - geograph.org.uk - 1009228.jpg
Eggs and newly hatched caterpillars
- Pieris brassicae (caterpillar).jpg
Large white caterpillar.
- Pieris brassicae (caterpillar) Portrait.jpg
Large white caterpillar portrait.
References
- ↑ Moore, Bill (17 June 2010). "Great white butterfly found in Nelson". Nelson Mail. Retrieved 18 December 2012. [1]
- ↑ Chun, Ma Wei. 1972. Dynamics of feeding responses in Pieris Brassicae Linn. as a function of chemosensory input: a behavioural, ultrastructural and electrophysiological study. Wageningen: H. Veenman, 1972.
- ↑ Carters D. & Hargreaves B. 1986. A field guide to caterpillars of butterflies and moths in Britain and Europe. William Collins, London.