European Cabbage White
(Pieris rapae)

Introduced from Europe, this species is common in gardens throughout Knox County where it deposits its eggs on broccoli, cabbage and other cole crops. As they grow the larvae can cause considerable damage to the crops. Adults of this species emerge in April and are common in the fields surrounding the BFEC gardens until the first frost. They take nectar from a large variety of plants found in successional fields, including clovers, mustards, loosestrife, and several composites. Females have two white spots on their wings while males only have one. In the mating pair the female has a yellow cast. This is most common in the Fall.