White Cabbage Butterfly - Pieris rapae
by Carol Senske
Title
White Cabbage Butterfly - Pieris rapae
Artist
Carol Senske
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Cabbage butterflies are now found world wide and are sometimes considered pests on such plants as cabbages. Their rather plain look gets them confused with moths at times.
They prefer to inhabit open spaces and are strong fliers. Dawn and dusk seem to be the only times they don't like to be active, and they can be seem in large clouds flying about plants where they can feed on nectar. The caterpillars eat plants that are members of the mustard family (including cabbage and kale) and destroy many dollars worth of crops.
These butterflies do not hibernate, and during mild weather they can be seen flitting about as early as January or February as far north as Washington, DC., USA.
This picture was taken June 7, 2012, in Green Lane, PA, USA.
For more picture and some terific pictures, visit:
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/cabbage_white.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pieris_rapae
Uploaded
June 10th, 2012
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Comments (5)
Sharon W
A super incredible close up Carol!! Can't wait for all our butterflies to return, hope there are many this year!
Carol Senske replied:
Me, too - can't wait:>). Today I saw a tiger swallowtail, a dark skipper, a small anglewing but couldnn't tell what it was - too far - and yesterday we had a mourning cloak. They are coming! Thanks for the nice compliment, shar:>)
Sharon Burger
I wish you could have been with me yesterday on our hike, the butterflies were abundant and beautiful as well as the birds, gators and little creatures of the lake. This is a wonderful shot . the wings look like a finely sewn gown. v/f
Carol Senske replied:
Just steped outsde to see if I could capture a spider web that was gentling moving in the breeze (saw it through the livingroom window) but, NO - sigh. Your hike sounds exciting and I would probably have been off the trail more than on it. There is enough down there that is strange to me that the experience would be sheer bliss. Clever observation re the gown! Like that!!! And thanks for the V/F, too. More rain approaching - moss is going to be growing between my toes pretty soon.
Doris Potter
Great capture! I find these guys hard to get! F/V
Carol Senske replied:
I must admit I can be surrounded by these and still not be able to get a decent picture. This one stayed still for perhaps a second longer than most - LOL. Thank you, Doris!
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