What host plant does the Small White (Pieris napi) caterpillar primarily favor differently than the Large White and Cabbage White?
Answer
Cuckoo Flower, Garlic Mustard, Watercress, or Hedge Mustard
The dietary divergence among these species is a key differentiator. While the Large White and the Cabbage White share a strong preference for plants in the cabbage family, scientifically known as Brassicas (including cultivated vegetables like cabbage and broccoli), the Small White caterpillar relies on different host plants. Specifically, the Small White caterpillars are commonly found feeding on flora such as Cuckoo Flower, Garlic Mustard, Watercress, and Hedge Mustard. This reliance on less intensively managed or native flora contrasts sharply with the success of the other two species in exploiting human-cultivated Brassica crops.
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?