Cabbage white vs Orange-tip

These two are easy to mix up. Here's how to tell a cabbage white from an orange-tip, and whether either one bites or stings.

≠The key differences

Small White lacks the male orange tips and has simpler black spots; underside of hindwing not mottled green.

	Cabbage white	Orange-tip
To humans	Non-toxic	Non-toxic
Size	32-47 mm wingspan	45-50 mm wingspan
Colours	White, Black, Pale yellow, Green (caterpillar)	White, Orange, Green (mottled underside), Black (wing tips and markings)
Family	Pieridae	Pieridae
Habitat	Open areas, gardens, agricultural fields, roadsides, parks and wasteland where host brassicas grow	Meadows, hedgerows, woodland edges, damp grassland, roadside verges and gardens where cruciferous plants grow
Range	Native to Eurasia and North Africa; introduced and now common across North America, Australia, New Zealand and parts of South America and other temperate areas	Widespread across Europe into temperate parts of Asia
Active	Spring to autumn (multiple broods in warm regions); diurnal, most active in warm sunny weather	Spring to early summer (typically April to June, varying with latitude); active during daylight, especially in sunshine
Pest?	Yes	No

Male: white wings with bright orange patch at the tip of each forewing, plus black marking on the wing edge.
Female: lacks orange patch—plain white above but with similar black marginal markings; underside of hindwing mottled green in both sexes.
Wingspan about 45-50 mm; when at rest, the mottled green underside helps distinguish it from many other white butterflies.

Small White lacks the male orange tips and has simpler black spots; underside of hindwing not mottled green.

Cabbage white: Non-toxic. Orange-tip: Non-toxic. Adults and caterpillars are not venomous and do not bite or sting. Harmless to people.

Identification from photos is never certain: don't handle insects you can't identify, and get medical advice for bites, stings or allergic reactions.