UK Butterflies

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Small White

Pieris rapae

PEE-err-iss RAY-pee

Wingspan
38 - 57 mm

Checklist Number
58.007

Small White

Pieris rapae

PEE-err-iss RAY-pee

Wingspan
38 - 57 mm

Checklist Number
58.007


The Small White, along with the Large White, can claim the title of "Cabbage White" that is the bane of allotment holders all over the British Isles although the damage caused by this species is significantly less than that of the Large White. This is one of the most widespread species found in the British Isles and can be found almost everywhere. It is relatively scarce in northern Scotland but has been seen as far north as Orkney and Shetland. This species is also known to migrate to the British Isles from the continent, sometimes flying in great swarms, augmenting the resident population in the process.

It is believed that this butterfly can fly up to 100 miles in its lifetime although, undoubtedly, most butterflies will only travel a mile or two. Evidence of the mobility of this species comes from a misguided introduction in Melbourne in 1939. 3 years after its introduction, the species had reached the west coast of Australia some 1,850 miles away in only 25 generations. This species has been a pest in the continent ever since.

This species was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Sweden).

Adults of the spring brood have generally lighter markings than those of the summer brood.

Spring Brood

Summer Brood

Description to be completed.

The distribution data (2000-2009) has been made available through the generosity of Butterfly Conservation and any subspecies distribution is taken from Riley (2007). Click here to see the distribution of this species together with site information overlaid.

This species is found in a wide variety of habitats and can turn up almost anywhere, including gardens, allotments, parks, meadows, open grassland, and hedgerows.

The status of this species is relatively-stable and so this widespread and common butterfly is not currently a species of conservation concern.

The table below shows the occurrence (distribution) and abundance (population) trends, using information from The State of the UK's Butterflies 2015 (Fox, 2015). Any UK BAP status is taken from the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).

UK BAP Status
Occurrence Change
1976-2014 (%)
Abundance Change
1976-2014 (%)
Occurrence Change
2005-2014 (%)
Abundance Change
2005-2014 (%)
Not Listed
Stable -8Decrease -25Stable +7Stable +9

There are generally 2 generations each year, with 3 generations in good years. Second brood adults have noticeably darker markings that those of the first brood. First-brood adults typically emerge in late April, peaking around the middle of May and gradually tailing off through June. The second brood, which is always stronger than the first brood, starts to emerge in early July. However, in good years, the second brood may emerge in late June and give rise to a third brood.

This highly-mobile butterfly can turn up almost anywhere and is a familiar sight in gardens across much of the British Isles where it is attracted to various nectar sources, in particular those with white flowers.

Adults feed primarily on thistles (Carduus spp. and Cirsium spp.). Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Common Bird's-foot-trefoil (Lotus corniculatus), Common Fleabane (Pulicaria dysenterica), Daisy (Bellis perennis), dandelions (Taraxacum spp.), Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.), Hemp-agrimony (Eupatorium cannabinum), knapweeds (Centaurea spp.), Ragged-Robin (Silene flos-cuculi), ragworts (Jacobaea spp.), Red Campion (Silene dioica), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) and Wild Marjoram (Origanum vulgare) are also used.

Spring Brood

Summer Brood

Eggs are laid singly, normally on the underside of a leaf. Foodplants in sheltered areas are preferred and gardens often provide ideal locations as a result. The eggs are pale when first laid, but gradually turn yellow and ultimately grey prior to hatching, this stage lasting as little as a week.

"The eggs are deposited singly on the under surface of the leaves, generally not more than one on a leaf. The egg stands erect, of an elongated conical form, a little convex just below the summit, and fullest about the middle, becoming slightly less on nearing the base, which is firmly attached to the leaf; the extreme summit is flat; there are twelve longitudinal keels, ten of which generally commence at the summit and run to the base, the remaining two start just below the summit and branch from the others; the spaces between the keels are delicately ribbed transversely by about thirty-five ribs in number and are concave along the upper half, becoming gradually flatter number and are concave along the upper half, becoming gradually flatter and finally slightly convex and sometimes showing a slight intermediate ridge. The colour when first laid is a very delicate pale yellow-green-white; in twenty-four hours it assumes a slightly deeper tone, inclining to primrose-yellow." - Frohawk (1924)

The larva eats its eggshell on hatching, and subsequently feeds on the foodplant, leaving tell-tale holes in the leaf which increase in size as the larva grows. On cabbages and other brassicas, the caterpillar moves into the heart of the plant as it grows. Older larvae tend to rest on the midrib of a leaf where it is well-camouflaged. This stage lasts around 3 weeks.

The primary larval foodplants are Cabbage family (Brassicaceae), Sea-kale (Crambe maritima) and Wild Mignonette (Reseda lutea). Nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) is also used.

1st Instar

"Directly after emerging the larva measures 1.8 mm. long. It has a number of conical tubercles running in longitudinal rows down the body, those on the dorsal surface being the largest, all emit fine white hairs, three on each side; those on the dorsal region, especially the medio-dorsal pair, are very long and terminate in a cleft club-shaped apex, from which exudes a very each side; those on the dorsal region, especially the medio-dorsal pair, are very long and terminate in a cleft club-shaped apex, from which exudes a very long and terminate in a cleft club-shaped apex, from which exudes a very minute globule of white fluid; the four sub-spiracular hairs on each segment have simple tips; all those on the first segment are the longest and curve forwards and are finely pointed. The head is elongated, with dark eye spots and blackish hairs; the spiracles are brownish. The entire colouring is a light ochreous-yellow; the skin is smooth and shining. After its first meal of the food plant it is decidedly tinged with green, owing to the semi-transparency of its body, the green becoming intensified after each meal. It at first eats a circular hole in the cuticle of one side of the leaf, close to the site of the egg, it then turns round and rests in a straight position and generally about its own length from the hole, with its head furthermost away. After resting a short time it returns to the same spot and again feeds, and quickly eats through the whole substance of the leaf (mignonette); after a few meals taken from the same spot it commences at a fresh place, each hole increasing in size, until the leaf is perforated in several places. Before first moult it measures 3.2 mm. long and is of a semi-transparent light yellowish-green, otherwise it is unaltered. It rests in a straight position and lives on the under surface of the leaf." - Frohawk (1924)

2nd Instar

"First moult August 21st. Before second moult it measures 5.5 mm. long, the body is cylindrical and of a clear yellowish-green colour; the six large white warts or tubercles on the dorsal area of each segment now emit black hairs, the body is thickly sprinkled all over with very short stiff black hairs, all are clubbed as in the previous stage; the head is pale greenish-yellow, the legs whitish. There is a very fine and rather indistinct pale medio-dorsal line, and a lateral undulating line, but very indistinct; the spiracles are black, the body is shining, semi-transparent and transversely wrinkled." - Frohawk (1924)

3rd Instar

"Second moult August 23rd, the second stage only occupying two days. After second moult, when six days old, it measures 8 mm. long. It is entirely of a clear pure green colour, the head and legs of a yellowish-green. It is precisely similar to the previous stage excepting that the hairs are longer, they still exude small beads of moisture from the cleft clubbed tips." - Frohawk (1924)

4th Instar

"Third moult August 28th. After third moult, eleven days old, it is 12.7 mm. long. The body is nearly of a uniform thickness, being only slightly attenuated; it is very convex above and rather flattened below; the ground colour is a pure green, but the surface is densely sprinkled with minute black dots, each emitting a tiny whitish hair that gives to the surface a soft velvety green texture; the large dorsal warts and hairs are the same as in the previous stages. There now appears a faint medio-dorsal line, extending the entire length, but very faint posteriorly, also a yellow spiracular line principally produced by a yellow spot behind each spiracle and a very faint greenish-yellow spot surrounding the spiracle in front. The segmental divisions are ill defined, each segment is transversely wrinkled, the wrinkles numbering seven in the middle of the body. The head, legs and claspers are the same colour as the body; the former is sprinkled with warts, each bearing a hair. It rests in a straight position along the midrib of the leaf and feeds by day." - Frohawk (1924)

5th Instar

"Fourth moult September 1st, 1893. After each moult it entirely consumes its cast skin. After fourth and last moult, fully grown, nineteen days old, it measures between 23 mm. and 25.4 mm. in length. The body is cylindrical and of nearly uniform thickness, the first and last segments being only slightly tapered. The head is smaller than the first segment. The ground colour is a rather pale green, darkest on the dorsal surface and palest on the ventral surface, which is whitish-green. The segments are fairly well defined and have seven sub-divisions from the fourth to ninth segments inclusive, the first and last three segments have each four sub-divisions. There is a slender medio-dorsal line of a greenish-yellow colour which extends from the head and terminates on the eleventh segment in most specimens, but in some it can be faintly traced over the last segment. There is also a very pale and indistinct spiracular line on which is situated a series of bright gamboge-yellow marks, one on the second and third segments, and two on each of the other eight segments, the last is without any. The anterior mark joins the spiracle, and the posterior marking is larger and oblong, and is placed a short distance from the spiracle. The spiracles are flesh-colour and outlined by a black rim. The entire surface is thickly sprinkled with small black points, varying in size, some being extremely small, each emits a very fine short pale hair; the points below the spiracles are most minute and many are pale and emit rather longer, white, sharply pointed hairs; on the dorsal surface the hairs terminate in a knob; the three white sub-dorsal warts on each segment emit black hairs; directly below each spiracle is a similar white wart emitting a simple pointed white hair. The head is green and sprinkled with points and hairs exactly the same as the body, the eye spots are black. The legs and claspers are the same colour as the ventral surface. By September 7th the larva was fully grown and commenced roaming about in search of a suitable place for pupation. It spun up on the following morning and pupated midday on the 9th." - Frohawk (1924)


The pupa is usually formed away from the foodplant, such as on a fence, tree trunk or building, and is supported by a silk girdle and the cremaster. The pupa may even be found in greenhouses. The pupa has two main colour forms - green and brown - and those that do not go on to produce adults in the same year overwinter.

"The pupa measures 19 mm. long. Side view — the head is beaked in front, the thorax strongly angulated by a central dorsal keel, which rises acutely at the middle and declines to the abdomen, the keel again rises gently and curves to the anal segment, which terminates in a long cremaster furnished with hooks; along the ventral surface the wings form a slight swelling; the sub-dorsal keel which rises above the anal angle of the wing is strongly bi-angulate; the highest point is posterior; the keel then takes a lateral course along the abdomen to the anal segment. The colour varies greatly in different specimens, ranging from cream-white, buff, pale drab to dull grey or dusky, while others vary from pale ochreous-yellow to green. The one described is the same individual as the larva from which the foregoing descriptions are made, and is of about the normal colouring and may be considered as a typical rape pupa, which is of a uniformly pale pinkish-buff. The entire surface is covered with exceedingly fine punctures which develop with very delicate reticulations over the wings; the antenna, legs and head are all darker than the ground colour; the head and especially the thorax are densely sprinkled with minute black specks that are only visible by the aid of a lens. Numerous black dots are scattered over the surface, the principal dots are situated as follows — a series along the dorsal keel and on the anterior part of each abdominal segment, the largest on the thoracic point, and others on the sub-dorsal keel and on each segment immediately above the keel, and a sub-spiracular row; the nervures of the wings are finely spotted, and a marginal series of seven black dots, one on each space above the nervures; along the beak is a conspicuous black streak; the antennae are finely spotted and terminate in a black point which reaches beyond the apex of the wings. The pupa is attached by a fine silken cincture round the middle and by the cremastral hooks to a pad of silk. The normal sites for pupation are under the copings of walls, ledges of sheds, palings and other buildings. The colouring of the pupa usually harmonizes with its surroundings, being highly sensitive to backgrounds. The pupae resulting from the spring parents are frequently attached to the leaves of the food plants, when they are invariably green, which renders them difficult to detect, consequently affording them much protection." - Frohawk (1924)