Cabbage Butterflies Page 1 Pieris is a beautiful butterfly that is a member of order Lepidoptera and family Pieridae. The two species of this butterfly are known the small white and the large white butterflies. Small white butterfly is scientifically known as Pieris rapae and the large white is P. brassicae. Both these are commonly known as Small and Large Cabbage butterflies. Small white is small to medium size in length while the large white is of considerable size. Small white is commonly distributed in Europe, North Africa and Asia and has been introduced to North America, Australia and New Zealand accidentally where they have become dangerous pests of cabbage and cruciferous crops. Large white are of common occurrence in Europe, North Africa and Asia to Himalayas, often in meadows, gardens and parks. It is a strong flier and also known to undergo migration. They have attained the status of pest in North America as are known to damage cabbage and other members of mustard family. The small white butterfly looks like the small version of the large white butterfly. Upper side is creamy white in colour with black tips continuing towards the forewings. Females also bear two black spots in the center of forewings. Under wings are yellowish with black speckles. It is sometimes confused with moths. The adult shares a wing span of 32-47 mm. In the large white butterflies the wings are white with black tips extending towards the tips of the forewings both in male and female. The female also bears two black spots in the center of the forewings as in the small whites. The underside is