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Cabbage Caterpillars

Large Cabbage White (Pieris brassicae). From May to July, and again in September and October, this, the most common of our butterflies, may be seen in great numbers, frequenting gardens, lanes, and fields, being especially numerous where Cabbages are growing. Their beautiful yellow eggs are laid singly on the under surface of the leaves, and securely fastened by a natural glue; from these, in due time, issue the small, but destructive, "green caterpillars." Shortly after birth, they become quite green in front and yellow behind. They then get hairy and dotted over with black; they have eight pairs of feet, of which the three front ones only are "true" legs, or those which ultimately develop into the legs of the butterfly. They change their skin several times, and at each moult become larger in size. When full grown, they are about 1 1/2in. long, of a light green or bluish hue above, and yellow beneath; along the back of the adult caterpillar is a conspicuous yellow line, edged on each side with black dots. The chrysalis, or pupa, is commonly found on windowledges, palings, walls, and similar places; but is sometimes attached to the plants. It is rather curious object, of the colour of stone, and prettily chiselled. It is fastened to the plant by the tail and by a belt of silk round the middle. The perfect male insect has the body black and wings white on the upper side, except the tips of the forewings, which are black and crescent-shaped; and on the upper edge of the hinder wings there is a black spot. On the under side, the fore wings are white with yellow tips, and two black patches on each; the hind wings are yellow, with small black markings. The antennae are alternately black and yellow, with the club black above and yellow beneath. The female differs from the male in having two large black spots on each of the fore or upper wings, and a spot on the inner margin.

The small White (Pieris,rapae) has two broods in the year, the first batch about April, and the second in July. The eggs are always placed on the upper side of the leaf, and are hatched in from ten to thirteen days, the caterpillars becoming full grown in about three weeks after emerging. The colour of the caterpillar is dark green, with a fine line of yellow, and a row of yellow spots down the sides The chrysalis is attached by the tail and a band of silk to the place selected by the caterpillar, and varies greatly in colour, although generally it is of a whitish-brown.