cabbage butterfly

Cabbage White Butterflies

@CarolDM (203396)

Nashville, Tennessee

June 28, 2021 12:53pm CST

These two cabbage white butterflies were seen on my Hydrangea leaves yesterday. Funny when I snapped the photo, I only saw one. Then I realized there are two. Maybe I interrupted the multiplying process. The cabbage butterfly can cause damage to crops. But they seem to be fine on my blooms. They are a very common butterfly. This species has such a plain appearance that it is often mistaken for a moth. They were accidentally introduced to North America, Bermuda, Australia, and New Zealand. Like most butterflies, their adult lifespan is only about three weeks.

14 people like this

13 responses

@Juliaacv (56195)

• Canada

28 Jun 21

Let's hope that they do not do too much damage during their 3 week visit to Dustin's garden.

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@Juliaacv (56195)

• Canada

28 Jun 21

@CarolDM Sorry, I am having a rough day so I naturally thought of the worst. I hope that they do no damage.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jun 21

@Juliaacv I am sorry. Thoughts are with you.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jun 21

I have never seen them damage anything. I will keep an eye out as you know. This hydrangea is in the front.

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@thelme55 (79311)

• Germany

28 Jun 21

I don’t think I have seen cabbage butterflies before. Beautiful photo!

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@thelme55 (79311)

• Germany

29 Jun 21

@CarolDM You are welcome. Yes, they are.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jun 21

Thank you. They are nice to see.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Jun 21

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@jobelbojel (36791)

• Philippines

28 Jun 21

The plain appearance can be difficult to see at first glance.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jun 21

These were easy on the green foliage.

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@jobelbojel (36791)

• Philippines

28 Jun 21

@CarolDM You are correct.

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@Dena91 (17029)

• United States

28 Jun 21

I saw some of them when I mowed our grass the other day. And you're right, I thought it was a moth. Now I know better

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jun 21

I see these often as it sounds like you do too. We live and learn.

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@NJChicaa (127116)

• United States

28 Jun 21

I've never seen one of those before.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jun 21

About the size of a moth but easily seen on the green foliage.

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@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

29 Jun 21

great shot, i had to look for a bit to see the second one!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Jun 21

Thank you. I did as well.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Jun 21

@DocAndersen They are coming. A few are here.

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@DocAndersen (54399)

• United States

29 Jun 21

@CarolDM The time of bunnies and baby birds now past, we move to the many butterfly visitors!

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@RebeccasFarm (91299)

• United States

28 Jun 21

Yes I see them around here too Carol,

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jun 21

Good to know.

Belle Starr (Iz)

@BelleStarr (61463)

• United States

29 Jun 21

Oh yah, I see by looking at the picture, looks like the Kama Sutra lol

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Jun 21

Yes you got it.

Too funny.

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@wolfgirl569 (135583)

• Marion, Ohio

29 Jun 21

They are pretty. At first glance it does seem to be one.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Jun 21

I was surprised for sure.

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@RasmaSandra (97912)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

29 Jun 21

Very nice capture, I have not seen such butterflies,

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Jun 21

Thanks I see them often.

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@Fleura (34927)

• United Kingdom

28 Jun 21

We have two types of 'cabbage whites' here - large white and small white - but I have trouble telling them apart. It's easier to distinguish the caterpillars though. Of course they all eat my brassicas. I've tried leaving some old plants (like the cauliflowers after we've eaten the flowers) so the caterpillars can have something to eat without destroying my food!

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

28 Jun 21

We do as well. This is the smaller one. They do love cauliflower and broccoli. I don't have any veggies so my flower garden should be safe.

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@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Jun 21

We call them cabbage moths here. They certainly do damage to vegetable plants.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Jun 21

They do look like moths.

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@LindaOHio (222222)

• United States

29 Jun 21

Great capture. That's a very short lifespan.

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@CarolDM (203396)

• Nashville, Tennessee

29 Jun 21

Thank you. Yes most butterflies have a short life span unfortunately.

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