Note: the Small white species of butterfly is commonly called a "cabbage moth" in North America.The cabbage moth (Mamestra brassicae) is a common Palearctic moth of the family Noctuidae. It is found in Europe, Russia and across the Palearctic to Japan.This species varies in size, with a wingspan of 34–50 mm. The forewings are brown and mottled with a prominent white-edged stigma and a broken white sub terminal line. The hind wings are grey, darker towards the termen.