Family: Pieridae, Whites and Sulphurs view all from this family

Description The Small White (Pieris rapae) is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the Yellows-and-Whites family Pieridae. It is also commonly known as the Small Cabbage White and in New Zealand simply as white butterfly. The names "Cabbage Butterfly" and "Cabbage White" can also refer to the Large White.

It is widespread across Europe, North Africa, Asia, and Great Britain and has also been accidentally introduced to North America, Australia and New Zealand where they have become pests on cultivated cabbages and other mustard family crops.

Dimensions 1 1/4-1 7/8" (32-48 mm).

Habitat Meadows & fields, Cities, suburbs & towns, Scrub, shrub & brushlands, Freshwater swamps, marshes & bogs, Shorelines & salt marshes, Grasslands & prairies, Forests & woodlands, Canyons & caves.

Range Alaska, New England, Eastern Canada, Texas, Southeast, Plains, Western Canada, Florida, Rocky Mountains, Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic, Northwest, Southwest, California.