Cabbage white - a gardener's friend or foe?

Cabbage whites are common butterflies of gardens and other flowery places, where they cause no harm at all. Their green coloured caterpillars, on the other hand, can wreak havoc in vegetable gardens and on farms, where they quickly reduce brassica plants, including cabbages, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, swede and turnips, to mere stalks.