What specific chemical component found in mustard family plants creates a key barrier for the Cabbage White diet?
Answer
Sulfur-containing compounds
The strong host-plant fidelity of the Cabbage White is underpinned by its requirement for specific sulfur-containing compounds that are characteristic of plants in the mustard family (*Brassicaceae*). This dietary constraint is so rigid that the larvae cannot simply substitute these preferred hosts with alternatives like lettuce or beans if the *Brassicas* disappear. This reliance on specific chemistry highlights a tight co-evolutionary relationship between the insect and its host plants.
Related Questions
What is the scientific name for the most frequently discussed white butterfly, the Cabbage White?What nickname is commonly given to the caterpillars of the Cabbage White due to their dietary preference?Which plant family is the primary dietary focus for Small White (*Pieris rapae*) larvae?Which of these vegetables is explicitly listed as a heavily favored host plant for Small White larvae?Besides plants in the *Cruciferae* family, what other specific host plant is documented for the Great White Butterfly (*Pieris canidia*)?During which life stage is the feeding intensity of the Cabbage White entirely concentrated according to the provided information?What specific chemical component found in mustard family plants creates a key barrier for the Cabbage White diet?What non-chemical gardening technique aims to confuse ovipositing female Cabbage Whites?How does the feeding behavior of the egg-laying female Cabbage White relate to the feeding of the adult sipping nectar?What visual characteristic describes the Small White caterpillars that confirms the diet is focused on intended vegetable crops?