[citation needed] Many species of this genus have caterpillars which feed on cabbage and other members of the Brassicaceae.

In contrast to most other insects, Pieris caterpillars are able to detoxify these chemicals, and have become so specialised that they will not eat any food without glucosinolates.

The crop-damaging species have spread from Eurasia to most of the rest of the world (most recently to South America and Africa) and are considered pest insects almost everywhere.

[1] It is listed as a suitable food plant for the Eurasian Veined white (Pieris napi).

Having not evolved with garlic mustard, the aforementioned American butterflies lay eggs on it, confusing it with their host plants due to a similar odor.