Knowledgebase

Moth in Winter? #924190

Asked February 03, 2026, 4:14 PM EST

I’ve found two of these moths in my kitchen over the last two weeks. Only one appears at a time. I don’t have any veggies on my counter but I do have houseplants around. What kind of moths are these and where could they have come from in the middle of winter?

Merrimack County New Hampshire

Expert Response

Hi, Kendall -

Thank you for reaching out the UNH Extension Infoline!

The butterfly in the excellent photos you provided is the Cabbage White Butterfly (Pieris rapae). It is a commonly seen, non-native insect that associates with broccoli, cauliflower and other cabbage family plants: https://horticulture.oregonstate.edu/oregon-vegetables/cabbage-white-butterfly

Were the house plants kept outdoors during the summer and fall? Cabbage White overwinters as a pupa on leaves of the host plant or in nearby debris. That could include the soil surrounding your houseplants. After emerging from the chrysalis, adults typically live for about three weeks: https://agsci.colostate.edu/agbio/ipm-pests/31986-2/

I hope that this information is helpful! Please feel free to reach out with any further questions.

Thank you for contacting the Infoline, a service of UNH Cooperative Extension. Replied February 04, 2026, 9:19 AM EST

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