List of butterflies of North America (Pieridae)
Encyclopedia
Whites and Sulphurs are small to medium sized butterflies. Their wingspans
range from 0.8-4.0 inches (2-10.2 cm). There are about 1,000 species worldwide with about 61 species in North America. Most Whites and Sulphurs are white, yellow, and orange with some black, and some may be various shades of gray-green. Their flight is mostly slow and fluttering, but some of the larger species have quicker flights. Both males and females like to feed at flowers, while males also like to puddle on damp ground. Male Whites and Sulphurs locate females by patrolling. The eggs are spindle-shaped and laid singly. Most of the long-slender larva
are green or yellow. The chrysalis is usually triangular or cone-headed. It hangs up right supported by a silken loop around the middle. The overwintering
varies with species. It may be larva, chrysalis, or adult.
Subfamily Pierinae
Subfamily Coliadinae
Wingspan
The wingspan of an airplane or a bird, is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777 has a wingspan of about ; and a Wandering Albatross caught in 1965 had a wingspan of , the official record for a living bird.The term wingspan, more technically extent, is...
range from 0.8-4.0 inches (2-10.2 cm). There are about 1,000 species worldwide with about 61 species in North America. Most Whites and Sulphurs are white, yellow, and orange with some black, and some may be various shades of gray-green. Their flight is mostly slow and fluttering, but some of the larger species have quicker flights. Both males and females like to feed at flowers, while males also like to puddle on damp ground. Male Whites and Sulphurs locate females by patrolling. The eggs are spindle-shaped and laid singly. Most of the long-slender larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
are green or yellow. The chrysalis is usually triangular or cone-headed. It hangs up right supported by a silken loop around the middle. The overwintering
Overwinter
To overwinter is to pass through or wait out the winter season, or to pass through that period of the year when “winter” conditions make normal activity or even survival difficult or near impossible...
varies with species. It may be larva, chrysalis, or adult.
Subfamily PierinaePierinaeThe Pierinae are a large subfamily of Pierid butterflies. The subfamily is one of several clades of butterflies often referred to as the Whites...
: Whites
- Pallid Tilewhite, Hesperocharis costaricensisHesperocharis costaricensisHesperocharis costaricensis, the Pallid Tilewhite or Costa Rican White, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Mexico, through Central America to Venezuela....
- Mexican Dartwhite, Catasticta nimbiceCatasticta nimbiceCatasticta nimbice, the Pine White or Mexican Dartwhite, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found from Costa Rica north to Mexico. Rare stray can be found as far north as the Chisos Mountains of western Texas....
- Pine White, Neophasia menapiaNeophasia menapiaThe Pine White is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in western USA and in southern British Columbia.It is mostly white with black vines and wing bars...
- Chiricahua White, Neophasia terlootii
- Common Green-eyed White, Leptophobia aripaLeptophobia aripaLeptophobia aripa, the Common Green-eyed White or Mountain White, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is native to Mexico, Central America and South America, but strays may be found as far north as southern Texas....
- Florida White, Appias drusillaAppias drusillaAppias drusilla, the Florida White or Tropical White, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found in tropical America from Brazil north to southern peninsular Florida and the Florida Keys and Antilles. It frequently visits coastal Texas and is a rare stray to Nebraska and Colorado...
- Becker's White, Pontia beckeriiPontia beckeriiThe Becker's White, Great Basin White, or Sagebrush White is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in western USA to Baja California and in southern British Columbia....
- Spring White, Pontia sisymbriiPontia sisymbriiThe Spring White, California White, or Colorado White is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in mountainous areas of western Canada and the USA....
- Checkered White, Pontia protodicePontia protodiceThe Checkered White , also called Southern Cabbage Butterfly, is a common North American butterfly in the family Pieridae. Its green larva is a type of cabbage worm.- Description :...
- Western White, Pontia occidentalisPontia occidentalisThe Western White is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in Western North America.The wingspan is 38 to 53 millimeters. The host plants are from the Brassicaceae family. The caterpillars eat especially the flowers, buds and fruit...
- Mustard White, Pieris napi
- "Veined" Mustard White, Pieris napi oleracea
- "Margined" Mustard White, Pieris napi marginalis
- West Virginia White, Pieris virginiensis
- Cabbage White, Pieris rapae
- Great Southern White, Ascia monusteAscia monusteThe Great Southern White is a species of butterfly of the Pieridae family in which the sexes differ in that the female can be either light or dark colored. It is found from the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States, south through tropical America to Argentina...
- Giant White, Ganyra josephinaGanyra josephinaGanyra josephina, the Giant White, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from southern Texas through Mexico and Central America to northern South America. The habitat consists of open, dry, subtropical forests....
- Howarth's White, Ganyra howarthiGanyra howarthiGanyra howarthi, Howarth's White, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found along the coast in the southern half of Baja California and Sonora in Mexico. It is also found in extreme southern Arizona. The habitat consists of thorn forests and desert scrubs.The wingspan is . The upperside is...
- Painted White, Pieriballia viardi
- Common Melwhite, Melete lycimniaMelete lycimniaMelete lycimnia, the Common Melwhite, Primrose Flag or Lycimnia White Flag, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Texas to Bolivia. The habitat consists of lowland rainforests.The wingspan is...
- Crossbarred White, Itaballia demophileItaballia demophileItaballia demophile, the Crossbarred White, Cross-barred White or Black-banded White, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Mexico to Paraguay...
- Large Marble, Euchloe ausonides
- Green Marble, Euchloe nainaEuchloe nainaGreen Marble is a species of butterfly that occurs in northern North America and Siberia.It is mostly white with black markings on the topside of the forewing tips and body...
- Northern Marble, Euchloe creusaEuchloe creusaNorthern Marble is a species of butterfly that occurs in northern North America.It is mostly white with black markings on the topside of the forewing tips and body...
- Sonoran Marble, Euchloe guaymasensis
- Pearly Marble, Euchloe hyantisEuchloe hyantisEuchloe hyantis, the Pearly Marble, Pearly Marblewing or California Marble, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from southern Oregon south through California west of the Sierra Nevada crest to northern Baja California. The habitat consists of rocky canyons, cliffs, moraines and...
- "California" Pearly Marble, Euchloe hyantis hyantis
- "Desert" Pearly Marble, Euchloe hyantis lotta
- Olympia Marble, Euchloe olympia
- Desert Orangetip, Anthocharis cethura
- Pima Orangetip, Anthocharis cethura pima
- Sara Orangetip, Anthocharis sara
- "Pacific" Sara Orangetip, Anthocharis sara sara
- "Stella" Sara Orangetip, Anthocharis sara stella
- Falcate Orangetip, Anthocharis midea
- Gray Marble, Anthocharis lanceolata
Subfamily ColiadinaeColiadinaeColiadinae, the sulfurs, sulphurs, or yellows, are a subfamily of butterflies with about 300 described species.There are 36 species in North America, where they range from Mexico to northern Canada...
: Sulphurs
- Statira Sulphur, Aphrissa statiraAphrissa statiraThe Statira Sulphur, Aphrissa statira, is a species of lepidoptera in the family Pieridae.-Description:Aphrissa statira have a wingspan of about to ....
- Clouded Sulphur, Colias philodiceColias philodiceThe Common or Clouded Sulphur is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae, subfamily Coliadinae.-Description:...
- Orange Sulphur, Colias eurytheme
- Western Sulphur, Colias occidentalisColias occidentalisThe Western Sulphur or Golden Sulphur is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America. Its range includes the Pacific Northwest and parts of British Columbia.Flight period is from late May until early July....
- Colias occidentalis chrysomelas
- Colias occidentalis pseudochristina
- Christina's Sulphur, Colias christinaColias christinaThe Christina Sulphur is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America. Its range includes the Yukon and Northwest Territories south through British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan to Wyoming, Montana, and Utah....
- Queen Alexandra's Sulphur, Colias alexandraColias alexandraThe Queen Alexandra's Sulphur, Alexandra Sulphur, or Ultraviolet Sulfur is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America...
- "Harford's" Queen Alexandra's Sulphur, Colias alexandra harfordii
- Colias alexandra krauthii
- Mead's Sulphur, Colias meadiiColias meadiiThe Mead's Sulphur is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America. Its range includes the Rocky Mountains in Canada and the USA.Flight period is from July to August.Wingspan is from 35 to 44 mm....
- Coppermine Sulphur, Colias johanseniColias johanseniThe Johansen's Sulphur is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America. It has only been found in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut, Canada.Flight period is July.Wingspan is from 35 to 38 mm....
- Canadian Sulphur, Colias canadensisColias canadensisThe Canada Sulphur is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America. It has only been found from Alaska and Northwest Territories, to northern British Columbia and Alberta.Flight period is early May to early August....
- Hecla Sulphur, Colias heclaColias heclaThe Northern Clouded Yellow or Hecla Sulphur is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. In Europe, it is found in the northern part of Norway, Sweden and Finland up to heights of 900 m. It is also found in Greenland, Alaska, the Northwest Territories, Yukon, Quebec, Labrador, Manitoba, the Chukot...
- Booth's Sulphur, Colias tycheColias tycheThe Booth's Sulphur or Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Baffin Island west along the Hudson Bay and arctic coasts of the Nunavut and Northwest Territories mainland and the southern tier of Arctic Islands to northern Yukon, Alaska, and Eurasia.The...
- Labrador Sulphur, Colias nastesColias nastesThe Labrador Sulphur is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. In Europe, it is found in the North of Norway and Sweden and on rare occasions in Northern Finland. It is also found in North America, specifically in Alaska, Canada, and the Rocky Mountains, Washington, Montana and on Greenland...
- Colias nastes thula
- Scudder's Sulphur, Colias scudderi
- Giant Sulphur, Colias giganteaColias giganteaThe Giant Sulphur or Giant Northern Sulfur is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America. Its range includes Alaska across Canada to the east coast and Wyoming, Montana, and Oregon....
- Sierra Sulphur, Colias behriiColias behriiColias behrii, the Behr's Sulphur or Sierra Green Sulfur, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is endemic to California's Sierra Nevada from Tuolumne County south to Tulare County....
- Pelidne Sulphur, Colias pelidneColias pelidneThe Pelidne Sulphur or Blueberry Sulphur is a butterfly in the family Pieridae found in North America. Its range includes British Columbia across Canada as far east as Newfoundland and south to Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming....
- Pink-edged Sulphur, Colias interiorColias interiorThe Pink-edged sulphur is a species of North American butterfly in the Pieridae family.-Life cycle:There is one flight between June to August. The adult female lays eggs on blueberry plants.-References:...
- Palaeno Sulphur, Colias palaenoColias palaenoThe Moorland Clouded Yellow, Palaeno Sulphur, or Pale Arctic Clouded Yellow is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. As most Colias-species, it is an avid flyer. Though the species is normally restricted to the habitats, occasionally it is found far from suitable breeding grounds...
- California Dogface, Colias eurydice
- Southern Dogface, Zerene cesonia
- White Angled-Sulphur, Anteos clorindeAnteos clorindeThe White Angled-sulphur is a butterfly of the Pieridae family. It is found in South America, Central America, and southern North America.The wingspan is 70–90 mm...
- Yellow Angled-Sulphur, Anteos maerulaAnteos maerulaThe Angled Sulphur or Yellow Angled-sulphur is a butterfly of the Pieridae family. It is found from Peru to Mexico. Rarely, migrants can be found up to eastern Nebraska, south-eastern Arizona, south-western New Mexico, southern Texas, Mississippi and Florida.The wingspan is 82-117 mm. The...
- Cloudless Sulphur, Phoebis sennae
- Orange-barred Sulphur, Phoebis phileaPhoebis phileaThe Orange-barred Sulphur is a species of butterfly found in the Americas including the Caribbean.The wingspan is 68 to 80 mm. There are two to three generations per year in Florida and one in the northern part of the range with adults on wing from mid to late summer. The species habitat is in...
- Large Orange Sulphur, Phoebis agarithePhoebis agarithePhoebis agarithe, the Orange Giant Sulphur or Large Orange Sulphur, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Peru north to southern Texas and peninsular Florida. Rare strays can be found up to Colorado, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and New Jersey...
- Tailed Sulphur, Phoebis neocyprisPhoebis neocyprisPhoebis neocypris, the Tailed Sulphur, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is native to Mexico and Central America. There is a record for one stray in southern Texas. The habitat consists of tropical areas, especially in mid-elevation forests as well as open and disturbed areas.The wingspan...
- Orbed Sulphur, Phoebis orbis
- Lyside Sulphur, Kricogonia lysideKricogonia lysideKricogonia lyside, commonly known as the Lyside Sulphur or Guayacan Sulphur, is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae. In seasons with heavy monsoons, this butterfly is seen in massive migrations which are frequent in Texas but more rare in the southwest...
- Barred Yellow, Eurema dairaEurema dairaThe Fairy Yellow, Barred Yellow or Barred Sulphur is a butterfly of the Pieridae family. It is found from Argentina north to the southern United States. Strays can be found up to southern Arizona, South Dakota, southern Texas and even Washington D. C.The wingspan is 32–41 mm...
- Ghost Yellow, Eurema albulaEurema albulaEurema albula, the Ghost Yellow, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from southern Texas south through the West Indies and mainland tropical Central and South America to Brazil. The habitat consists of tropical forests and second growth.The wingspan is . Adults are pure white above...
- Boisduval's Yellow, Eurema boisduvalianaEurema boisduvalianaEurema boisduvaliana, Boisduval's Yellow, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Costa Rica north to Mexico. Rare strays may be found in southern Florida, but it is a regular migrant to south-eastern Arizona, south-western New Mexico, and southern Texas...
- Mexican Yellow, Eurema mexicanaEurema mexicanaThe Mexican Yellow is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae...
- Salome Yellow, Eurema salomeEurema salomeEurema salome, the Salome Yellow, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Peru northward through tropical America. It is an extremely rare migrant to the lower Rio Grande Valley in Texas. The habitat consists of forest openings and edges and roadcuts.The wingspan is...
- Tailed Orange, Eurema proterpiaEurema proterpiaThe Tailed Orange is a North and South American butterfly in the family Pieridae.-Description:The upper side of the wings is orange with a variable amount of black along the fore wing costa. The wing veins are lightly marked with black in summer individuals, and winter individuals have no black...
- Little Yellow, Eurema lisa
- Mimosa Yellow, Eurema niseEurema niseEurema nise, the Mimosa Yellow, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Argentina north to the Texas Gulf Coast and southern Florida. It is an occasional stray to central Texas and south-eastern Arizona and rarely to southern California, southern Colorado and Kansas. The habitat...
- Shy Yellow, Eurema messalinaEurema messalinaEurema messalina, the Shy Yellow, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is native to the West Indies, but a very rare stray may be found in southern Florida. The habitat consists of shady, brushy areas....
- Dina Yellow, Eurema dinaEurema dinaEurema dina, the Dina Yellow, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. It is found from Panama north to southern Florida. The species is regularly recorded from southern Texas and south-eastern Arizona. The habitat consists of forest edges, brushy fields and open forest.The wingspan is...
- Sleepy Orange, Eurema nicippeEurema nicippeThe Sleepy Orange is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae.-Description:For a key to the terms used, see Lepidopteran glossary...
- Dainty Sulphur, Nathalis ioleNathalis ioleThe Dainty Sulphur or Dwarf Yellow is a North American butterfly in the family Pieridae.-Description:For a key to the terms used see Lepidopteran glossary...