To which scientific family do the Large White, Small White, and Cabbage White butterflies generally belong?
Answer
Pieridae
Despite the superficial similarities and common naming conventions used by casual observers, these three distinct but related white butterflies—the Large White (Pieris brassicae), the Small White (Pieris napi), and the Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)—are all formally classified within the same taxonomic grouping. This classification places them within the scientific family known as Pieridae. Understanding this family designation connects them as relatives sharing common evolutionary traits, even if their specific habits, diets, and geographic ranges show significant divergence.
Related Questions
What host plant does the Small White (Pieris napi) caterpillar primarily favor differently than the Large White and Cabbage White?What specific appearance marker reliably indicates the sex of the Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) on the upper side of the forewing?What distinguishing feature marks the underside of the Small White (Pieris napi) wings compared to its relatives?In which continent did the Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) establish itself relatively late, around the late 1800s, before spreading widely?To which scientific family do the Large White, Small White, and Cabbage White butterflies generally belong?Besides brassicas, which additional specific food sources are consumed by the caterpillars of the Large White (Pieris brassicae)?What color description is typically given for the chrysalis of the Cabbage White?How does the flight behavior of the adult Cabbage White often manifest when observed among vegetation?What comparison of physical size differentiates the Large White from the Small White?What specific effect do high populations of Large White and Cabbage White larvae have on their preferred Brassica crops?