cabbage butterfly

noun

1. any white or chiefly white butterfly of the family Pieridae, as Pieris rapae, the larvae of which feed on the leaves of cabbages and other related plants.

Word History and Origins

Origin of cabbage butterfly¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

I’m thinking of flea beetles on arugula and eggplant, potato beetles on spuds, and cabbage butterfly worms and harlequin bugs on cabbages and related varieties.

From Washington Post

There are several species of ichneumon which make thinnings among the caterpillars of the cabbage butterfly.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Moore: No; this maggot is on the root, the cabbage butterfly lays its eggs on the leaf.

From Project Gutenberg

It is the group to which our common cabbage butterfly belongs and the ground colour is generally white.

From Project Gutenberg

As he approached, a cabbage-butterfly, fluttering about the place lit on the straw hat of one of the dignitaries.

From Project Gutenberg

The larvæ of the cabbage-butterfly sometimes do a great deal of harm by eating the cabbage leaves.

From Project Gutenberg