Here, we see a white butterfly, in flight, making a beeline for a clump of lavender. Small white butterflies are pretty to look at, but they are pests if you are trying to grow cabbage, mustard, or (it appears in this case) lavender. Widespread in Europe, Asia and Africa, it is said that white butterflies were an accidental import to the USA. They are the kudzu of the butterfly family– pretty, but tenacious and distructive. Hardy beyond belief, white butterflies are the first to emerge and the last to go during the growing season.  The caterpillars are hard to find because they hide on the underside of leaves and munch away– camouflaged.  On a positive note they are pollinators. This one, a female, was spotted in Greensboro yesterday.

Butterflies have great symbolism in religion, art, and literature and were even featured in Egyptian hieroglyphs over 3,000 years ago. If you are in the mood to learn a little more about them, Wikipedia is a good place to start!