Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Family PIERIDAE
Pieris rapae (Linnaeus) ( 721-722 )
syn. Artogeia rapae (Linnaeus)
Small white butterfly
This well-known pest of vegetable brassicas also,
occasionally, breeds on mignonette ( Reseda odorata )
and nasturtium ( Tropaeolum ). However, the larvae are
usually present in only small numbers and, unlike those
of the previous species, cause insignificant damage.
Fully grown specimens are c. 30 mm long, green, finely
speckled with black, with a yellow line along the back
and yellow markings along the sides. The mainly white
to yellowish-white adults (45 mm wingspan) appear in
late April and May, with a second generation emerging
in the summer.
A family of mainly white- or yellow-winged butterflies.
The larvae have setae on the head arising from raised
tubercles; crotchets on the abdominal prolegs are of two
sizes (biordinal).
Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus) ( 719-720 )
Large white butterfly
Although of importance mainly as a pest of vegetable
brassica crops, eggs of this often abundant species are
sometimes deposited on ornamentals such as
mignonette ( Reseda odorata ) and nasturtium
( Tropaeolum ). The larvae are gregarious, feeding in
large groups and causing extensive damage to the
leaves, particularly in the late summer. Individuals (up
to 40 mm long) are light green to yellow, variably
marked with black. The mainly white, black-marked
adults (55-65 mm wingspan) occur in the spring but are
more numerous in the summer.
719
720
719 Larva of large white butterfly ( Pieris brassicae ).
720 Large white butterfly ( Pieris brassicae ) damage to
Tropaeolum .
721
722
721 Larva of small white butterfly ( Pieris rapae ).
722 Female small white butterfly ( Pieris rapae ).
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