It is therefore obvious that the first generation of caterpillars (May,
June) is much less numerous than the second generation occurring from
late summer to autumn. Under exceptionally favourable conditions even a
third generation may appear, since caterpillars of the second generation
are able to become pupæ at the beginning of August; and these pupæ,
instead of remaining as such over winter, become butterflies the same
month. These, again, lay eggs from which the caterpillars of the third
generation are hatched, which, however, are not always fully developed
before the advent of the cold weather, and in this case perish. It is
clear that, in the case of pupæ which develop into butterflies during
August in about fourteen days, the unfavourable influences have either
no effect (unfavourable weather) or but little (ichneumons, birds), so
that the butterflies appear in flocks, which wander into other regions,
since they have themselves, when larvæ, devoured the cabbage and turnip
plants. In reference to the damage effected by the caterpillar, it may
be observed that only the chief veins of the leaf are left, and the
margins are not spared. _Remedies_: Collection of the little heaps of
yellow eggs and the young caterpillars, which are blackish and live
together in small companies; the planting of a few small hemp plants in
the cabbage fields to be protected, by which the butterflies will be
kept away.
The =Garden White=, or =Small White= (_Pieris rapæ_).
[Illustration:
FIG. 96.—The Garden White (_Pieris rapæ_), male.
]
[Illustration:
FIG. 97.—The Garden White (_Pieris rapæ_), female, caterpillar.
]
_Butterfly_ (Figs. 96 and 97): Length rather less than an inch, span of
wing two inches; very much like the cabbage white. Base and tip of the
fore wing not of such a deep black colour; the black patch in the inner
margin of the fore wing is usually absent in the female. The male,
however, very often has a black patch in the upper side of the fore
wing. _Caterpillar_: Just over an inch long. Dull green; a longitudinal
yellow line on the back; also the black stigmata are connected by a
yellow line. Habits as in the preceding species; the female, however,
lays her yellow eggs separately, and not in heaps, and the second
generation of caterpillars usually become pupæ somewhat later in the
year. Collecting is more difficult than in the preceding species, since
the young caterpillars live independently, and their colour makes it
difficult to recognize them on the green cabbage leaves.
The =Green-veined White= (_Pieris napi_).
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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