PIERIS RAPÆ AND AGRAULIS VANILLÆ

Extract

P. Rapæ, the introduced “European cabbage butterfly,” on its westward march across this Continent, was first taken in Nebraska on August 3, 1881. (See Can. Ent., 1882, 39.) In May, 1883, I took one male in Southern California. At that time I did not know its name, but I spread it and placed it in my cabinet as unknown. In a few years an Eastern Entomologist called on me, and at once identified it as P. Rapæ. It was yet other years before I saw another specimen in flight, though collecting diligently every season. About 1890 or '91 other specimens were observed, and thereafter every year brought them in rapidly increasing numbers, till now they are extremely abundant, flying early and late in the day, and early and late in the spring and fall, and at times, as in cold or cloudy weather, when only a very few of the native species can fly, indicating that it is more hardy than the native species, and that it will eventually dominate. As might be expected, the larvæ feed in good part on cabbage plants, but yet they are not at all dainty or particular as to food, and many other plants are used. Last year I raised some fine specimens from eggs laid on leaves of common nasturtiums, in the garden, and wholly fed upon those leaves.