Friday 20 July 2007

Small White (Pieris rapae)

OTHER NAMES: Small Cabbage White, White Butterfly
Latin Etymology: Pieris (a Muse) rapae ("radish")
Adult Small White (subspecies P. r. rapae) at Geddington, Northants - July 2011

Featured Subspecies: Pieris rapae rapae
Length: ?  /  Wingspan: 32-47mm
UK Status: Least Concern IUCN Red List: Not Yet Evaluated

As the name suggests, this is a small white butterfly. Possibly slightly less numerous than the large white (or at least, less noticable) it can be slightly difficult to differentiate from some of the other whites, so a passing familiarity with markings and sizes may be required for it and its nearest relatives. Colloquially known as the "cabbage white" this name refers to both this species and the large white.

Related Species:
Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Pieridae
Genus: Pieris 
SUBSPECIES: P. r. rapae, P. r. crucivora, P. r. atomaria, P. r. eumorpha, P. r. leucosoma, P. r. mauretanica, P. r. napi, P. r. novangliae, P. r. orientalis

- Sighting Locations -
UNITED KINGDOM A common resident species
 - Seen in GeddingtonBrigstock and numerous other locations

Further Notes: BirdGuides, IUCN Red List, RSPB, Wikipedia, Xeno-canto

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