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.
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.
 |  (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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