There is nothing rare about this butterfly. The Cabbage White is common across the southern half of the Province and, although it is an introduced species, it has been here for about two centuries.
A female shows two spots on the upper forewing.
Last week, I watched a dozen or more Cabbage Whites sipping nutrients from the moist soil along the shore of Duck Bay at Nelson’s waterfront. During their phrenetic activities I could not distinguish the sexes. Later, using pictures, I could only identify males.
Both sexes have a black tip on the upper forewing, behind which there is one black spot on the male, and two black spots on the female. The underwings are virtually the same, each with two black spots on the forewing.
So, one must see the two spots on the upper wing to identify the female. To the right, I include a small picture of a female taken a previous year.
The extended proboscis of each Cabbage White is being used to sip nutrients from the moist soil.
The butterfly lifting off seems to have a faint second spot on its upper forewing, but we are merely seeing through the wing to the lower side where there are two spots. This too is a male.
The back underwing is a pale mustard colour. The proboscis is coiled as it flies away.
