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ANIMAL SPECIES:Cabbage White Butterfly

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The Cabbage White Butterfly is probably the most common butterfly found in Sydney after it was accidentally introduced into Australia. It was first recorded in Melbourne in 1929 and had made it to Sydney by 1941.

Alternative Name/s

Small White Butterfly, Cabbage Butterfly

Size range

5 cm

Habitat

The Cabbage White Butterfly lives in urban areas, forests and woodlands, and heath.

Behaviour and adaptations

Feeding and Diet

The velvety green caterpillars of the Cabbage White Butterfly are considered a pest because they feed on cabbages and other plants found in vegetable gardens, such as cauliflower, brussel sprouts, broccoli, radishes and turnips.

Predators, Parasites and Diseases

Two species of wasp were introduced as biological control agents in the 1940s and have helped reduce the butterfly's abundance and impact.

Classification

Species:
rapae
Genus:
Pieris
Subfamily:
Pierinae
Family:
Pieridae
Superfamily:
Papilionoidea
Order:
Lepidoptera
Class:
Insecta
Subphylum:
Uniramia
Phylum:
Arthopoda
Kingdom:
Animalia

What does this mean?


Last Updated: 7 May 2009

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