Cabbage White Butterfly - Zargyn White Butterfly

Cabbage White Butterfly - Pontia daplidice L.

This is a medium-sized butterfly with white wings, on which dark veins are clearly visible. Unlike females, males have a less developed black pattern on their wings. The wingspan is 30–50 mm, and when at rest, they fold vertically upwards over the back. The body of the cabbage whites is slender, and the antennae are club-shaped. All three pairs of legs are normally developed.

They feed on the nectar of flowers. They are diurnal butterflies and hide in shelters at night. Butterflies fly from early May to September inclusive. Their flight is slow and fluttering. The pupa overwinters. Butterflies of this species are known to concentrate most often near agricultural fields and gardens.

Flight time: April (2nd-3rd decade), May, June (1st decade), July, August, September, October (1st-2nd decade).

It develops in 2-3 generations, with imagos observed from April to mid-October.

Eggs are laid one at a time on the edge of a leaf; they are orange-yellow, cylindrical, with a rounded top and 14 ribs. The egg stage lasts 7-8 days.

The pupa is green, gray-green, or brownish, with small black speckles, sometimes with yellowish stripes on the abdomen. Overwintering pupae are smaller than summer ones.

Caterpillars are gray-blue-green, with two yellow longitudinal stripes on the sides, covered with small black dot-like warts, and the entire body is covered in fine hairs. The head is light green, with black dots and yellow stripes on the sides.

Caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly particularly damage rapeseed and mustard; they also feed on reseda and other crucifers. Their bodies are usually green, covered with numerous bristles and dark patches. The pads of their fleshy prolegs are equipped with hooks that allow the caterpillars to hold firmly onto plants.

The cabbage white butterfly migrates regularly, while other species of whites migrate only occasionally. Seasonal dimorphism is characteristic: the spring generation of butterflies differs from the summer one in smaller size. In some years, the population of this cabbage white is quite high.

Distribution: throughout Kyrgyzstan

INSECTS OF KYRGYZSTAN