Small White (Pieris rapae) is in the Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs family (Pieridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 102,713 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in July.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: summer visitor / breeder. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Small White: observations by month (U.S.)
About Small White
Pieris rapae, the small white, is a small- to medium-sized butterfly species of the whites-and-yellows family Pieridae. It is also known as the small cabbage white and in New Zealand, simply as white butterfly. The names "cabbage butterfly" and "cabbage white" can also refer to the large white. The butterfly can be distinguished by the white color with small black dots on its wings. They are further distinguished by the smaller size and lack of the...From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Small White by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| California | 20,913 | July | Mar–Oct |
| New York | 7,368 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Pennsylvania | 6,130 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Ohio | 5,869 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Illinois | 5,318 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Maryland | 4,954 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Virginia | 4,801 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Massachusetts | 4,736 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 2,907 | August | Jun–Sep |
| New Jersey | 2,846 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Washington | 2,684 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Michigan | 2,588 | August | Jun–Sep |
| North Carolina | 2,377 | June | May–Oct |
| Colorado | 2,245 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Indiana | 2,242 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Oregon | 2,013 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Minnesota | 1,972 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Vermont | 1,873 | August | May–Sep |
| Connecticut | 1,307 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Utah | 1,276 | June | Apr–Sep |
| New Hampshire | 1,200 | August | May–Sep |
| Missouri | 1,184 | September | May–Oct |
| Texas | 1,178 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Tennessee | 1,095 | June | May–Oct |
| Maine | 967 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Kentucky | 909 | July | May–Oct |
| Idaho | 901 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Iowa | 790 | July | Jun–Sep |
| New Mexico | 761 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Delaware | 695 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Georgia | 689 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Nebraska | 664 | July | Apr–Sep |
| District of Columbia | 658 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Oklahoma | 561 | May | Mar–Oct |
| Kansas | 473 | September | May–Oct |
| Hawaii | 453 | March | Jan–Jun |
| West Virginia | 444 | June | Jun–Sep |
| Alabama | 423 | May | Apr–Oct |
| Montana | 333 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Rhode Island | 307 | July | Jun–Oct |
| Arizona | 290 | July | Mar–Oct |
| Nevada | 274 | June | Apr–Oct |
| South Carolina | 241 | May | Mar–Nov |
| Arkansas | 218 | July | May–Oct |
| South Dakota | 197 | August | Jun–Sep |
| Wyoming | 150 | July | Jun–Sep |
| North Dakota | 135 | August | Jul–Aug |
| Florida | 68 | May | Apr–May |
| Mississippi | 24 | May | Apr–Jul |
| Louisiana | 12 | May | Apr–Jun |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs)
Orange Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur
Sleepy Orange
Checkered White
Dainty Sulphur
Little Yellow
Clouded Sulphur
Southern Dogface
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Small White?
Nationally, July has the most observations, with the main season from April to October.
Where is Small White most often seen?
The most observations come from California, New York, Pennsylvania.