Pieris brassicae

Pieris brassicae, commonly called the large white and also known as the cabbage butterfly or cabbage white, is a species in the butterfly family Pieridae, closely related to the small white, Pieris rapae. It is widespread across Europe, North Africa and Asia, favouring agricultural land, meadows and parkland where its larval food plants grow abundantly. Adults have white wings marked with black, males showing black scaling only at the base of the creamy white forewing while females carry broader black areas and two black spots on each forewing, with a wingspan of 5 to 6.5 centimetres. A strong flier, the species has established populations well beyond its native range, notably in South Africa, and once became established temporarily in New Zealand before being eradicated through coordinated pest control.