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Cabbage White caterpillars

10/5/2014

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These little kale caterpillars are on their way to becoming invasive Cabbage White butterflies; they quickly went through their instars to L5 (27mm). You can see that this one sports the tell-tale two yellow dashes per digit and the yellow racing stripe down the back.

The photo shoot was exciting! One caterpillar was immobile and the other an explorer. Both caterpillars pupated within 48 hours (and to begin with were green). After 3 days, one had lost its green color, fading to a brownish tan. Both color variations are common and depend on where the caterpillar has chosen to pupate.

Cabbage White butterflies are non-native to Washington and they prefer disrupted areas, compared to native butterflies which do not choose to lay eggs in most people's vegetable gardens.
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(Left) That is the caterpillar's shed skin hanging off the pupae like a little helmet
(Right) This pupae was originally bright green


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    Author

    Tracey Byrne~
    I spent most of the 1980s and 90s in Alaska
    flying airplanes, floating wild rivers, winter camping, raising a wild child, and living off the grid :^)

    With my MAT in Advanced Inquiry for Biological Sciences, I've taught K-12 students from north of the Arctic Circle to the Puget Sound Ecoregion, garnering over thirty years experience as a classroom teacher, learning mentor, and private tutor.

    Here in Seattle, I am an advocate for environmental stewardship, place-based education, and outdoor play. I share my enthusiasm for birds, bugs, and backyards as a writer/photographer for Pacific Horticulture.

    All photographs © T. Byrne unless otherwise noted.

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    Tracey B.
    " > View my profile on LinkedIn
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