Submitted Photo The Cabbage White butterfly is a true butterfly. They are efficient pollinators and are not harmful to plants.

As many of you have noticed, there is a large number of small white butterflies gracing our plants and skies.

This white butterfly is generally smaller than two inches with a white to pale yellow wing ordained with black/ brown dots. The males have one spot while the females will have two spots on the top section, or dorsal surface, of their wings. This mysterious butterfly is a Cabbage White butterfly. Not to be confused with the cabbage moth or the Army cutworm moth, the cabbage white butterfly is a member of the Pieridae family, making it a true butterfly.

The Cabbage White butterfly is native to Europe and was introduced to North America in the 1860s. This butterfly can go through three to five generations every year, making them a very common butterfly to find. As the name suggests, Cole crops such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are the main food source for larvae. The larvae eat the leaves on the plant which can lead to discoloration of cauliflower and broccoli heads. This can be a major problem for a farmer growing Cole crops as worms found in cabbage can lead to rejection from the buyer. For the average home grower, the damage is more of a nuisance. Luckily it is easy to control the larvae with pesticides such as Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki or Btk. This pesticide is an effective control on the smaller larvae and is sufficient for a home garden.

While the larvae can be troublesome to your cabbages, the butterflies are not usually something to worry about, especially if your garden does not contain any Cole crops. Cabbage White butterflies are efficient pollinators and are not harmful to your plants. So why not take the time and enjoy the butterflies this season?