- Lifespan
- 4–6 weeks as adults; entire life cycle from egg to adult typically 4–6 weeks
- Size & Weight
- Wingspan 55–67 mm
- Habitat
- Open countryside, farmland, gardens, and disturbed areas with brassica crops and other cruciferous plants.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; common summer migrant with populations boosted by continental arrivals in spring and summer.
- Diet
- Caterpillars feed on cruciferous plants including cabbages, kale, and wild mustards; adults feed on nectar from various flowers.
- Predators
- Birds including robins and blue tits; parasitic wasps attack eggs and larvae; spiders and predatory insects.
- Mating Season
- April to September, typically with two or three broods per year
- Breeding
- Females lay clusters of 50–150 yellow eggs on host plants; eggs hatch in 3–5 days; caterpillar stage lasts 3–4 weeks; pupation lasts 1–2 weeks; multiple broods occur annually.
- Behaviour
- Highly migratory species with continental populations regularly reaching the UK in spring. Males patrol open ground looking for females and are known for their rapid, erratic flight. Caterpillars are gregarious and can cause significant crop damage to brassica farms.