Large White

Pieris Brassicas

Family Pieris

• Colouring – Wings with black tips on the edge of the wings. Large White females have two black spots on their wings.
• Life span – Sightings seen from April through to October. 30-40 days normal life span
• Immigrant – Almost native. Sometimes referred to as Cabbage White.
• Caterpillar colour – Yellow and black.
• Eggs to caterpillar – Approximately 20-30 days.
• Food for the caterpillar – The cabbage family plants, plus nasturtiums and stock.
• Food for the butterfly – Cabbage, sprouts, brassicas, oil seed rape.
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Special features

Gardeners enemy No.1. The large White Butterfly also has a wasp as an enemy (Cotesia Glomerata). This wasp can plant wasp eggs in the young caterpillar, causing the caterpillar to be eaten alive and eventually die.