Butterfly ID
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Field guide · Denmark
Whites and yellows · Denmark

Small white

Pieris rapae

Small white is common in Denmark. The wingspan is 39-52 mm. The flight period is from April to October, in two generations. Small white can appear in a vast majority of different types of habitats.

Status in this countryCommon in DenmarkLC (Least concern)
Small white

Flight period

The flight period is from April to October, spanning two generations. The larva can be found from June to July and again from September to October.

Habitat

Small white can occur on an extremely wide variety of habitats. Since it also flies around considerably, the food plants do not even need to be present at the location.

Identifying features

Wingspan: 39–52 mm. The forewing tips are wedge-shaped and black to lead-grey.

Similar species

Imago: Can be confused with the green-winged, green-spotted, and cabbage butterfly, as well as orange tip females. Small white can be confused with cabbage butterfly, but this one is significantly larger and has boomerang-shaped, dark wing tips, compared to small white, which has kite-shaped, dark wing tips.

Distribution

Small white is a common and abundant species throughout Denmark.

Biology

Small white is a pest that is just as well-known on cabbage in both gardens and un-sprayed fields, such as cabbage butterfly. Small white, however, is most frequently encountered.