Spanish caterpillar on broccoli
This green caterpillar of the Small White Butterfly, Artopeia rapae, was found by Katie Stainwright on broccoli imported into the UK from Spain .
The butterfly also occurs in the UK and can be a pest of vegetables.
The caterpillar is very similar to that of The Green-veined White Butterfly, Artopeia napi, but the feint, yellow dorsal line helps identify it.
In the warmer, southern parts of Spain the first broods are much earlier than those of the Small White Butterfly in the Uk.
Update – in order to confirm identification Katie successfully reared through with the butterfly emerging on the 3rd of May.
Southern Small White Butterfly
The Southern Small White, Artopeia mannii, also occurs in parts of Southern Europe but the caterpillar has more distinctive, yellow markings.
Some other caterpillars frequently imported into the Uk on agricultural produce include
Butterfly caterpillar gallery