Pontia protodice
Encyclopedia
The 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
.
, composites, and alfalfa
.
), Black Mustard (Brassica nigra
), Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae italica
), Brussel Sprouts (Brassica oleraceae gemmifera
), Cabbage (Brassica oleraceae capitata
), Cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae botrytis
), Turnip (Brassica rapa
), Pinnate Tansy-Mustard (Descurainia pinnata
), Fixweed Tansy-Mustard (Descurainia sophia), Prairie Pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum
), Virginia Pepper-Grass (Lepidium virginicum
), Radish (Raphanus sativus), Tumble Mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum
), and Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense
).
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
in the family Pieridae
Pieridae
The Pieridae are a large family of butterflies with about 76 genera containing approximately 1,100 species, mostly from tropical Africa and Asia. Most pierid butterflies are white, yellow or orange in coloration, often with black spots...
. Its green larva is a type of cabbage worm
Cabbage worm
The term cabbage worm is primarily used for any of four kinds of lepidopteran whose larvae feed on cabbages and other cole crops. Host plants include broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens, radishes, turnips, rutabagas and kohlrabi...
.
Description
The upper side of the wings are white and marked with black and gray, more so on the female. The underside of the hindwings are marked with extensive yellow-brown veins. The wingspan is 1.25-1.75 in.Nectar plants
Checkered Whites have been seen nectaring on mustardsMustard plant
Mustards are several plant species in the genera Brassica and Sinapis whose small mustard seeds are used as a spice and, by grinding and mixing them with water, vinegar or other liquids, are turned into the condiment known as mustard or prepared mustard...
, composites, and alfalfa
Alfalfa
Alfalfa is a flowering plant in the pea family Fabaceae cultivated as an important forage crop in the US, Canada, Argentina, France, Australia, the Middle East, South Africa, and many other countries. It is known as lucerne in the UK, France, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand, and known as...
.
Host plants
Its host plants include Brazos Rockcress (Arabis petiolaris), Sicklepod (Senna obtusifoliaSenna obtusifolia
Senna obtusifolia is a legume in the genus Senna, sometimes separated in the monotypic genus Diallobus. It grows wild in North, Central, and South America, Asia, Africa, and Oceania, and is considered a particularly serious weed in many places...
), Black Mustard (Brassica nigra
Brassica nigra
Brassica nigra is an annual weedy plant cultivated for its seeds, which are commonly used as a spice.-Description:...
), Broccoli (Brassica oleraceae italica
Broccoli
Broccoli is a plant in the cabbage family, whose large flower head is used as a vegetable.-General:The word broccoli, from the Italian plural of , refers to "the flowering top of a cabbage"....
), Brussel Sprouts (Brassica oleraceae gemmifera
Brussels sprout
The Brussels sprout is a cultivar of wild cabbage grown for its edible buds. The leafy green vegetables are typically 2.5–4 cm in diameter and look like miniature cabbages. The sprout is Brassica oleracea, in the "gemmifera" group of the family Brassicaceae...
), Cabbage (Brassica oleraceae capitata
Cabbage
Cabbage is a popular cultivar of the species Brassica oleracea Linne of the Family Brassicaceae and is a leafy green vegetable...
), Cauliflower (Brassica oleraceae botrytis
Cauliflower
Cauliflower is one of several vegetables in the species Brassica oleracea, in the family Brassicaceae. It is an annual plant that reproduces by seed...
), Turnip (Brassica rapa
Brassica rapa
Brassica rapa L. , commonly known as turnip, turnip rape, field mustard or turnip mustard is a plant widely cultivated as a leaf vegetable , a root vegetable , and an oilseed .In the 18th century the turnip and...
), Pinnate Tansy-Mustard (Descurainia pinnata
Descurainia pinnata
Descurainia pinnata is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name western tansymustard. It is native to North America, where it is widespread and found in varied habitats. It is especially successful in deserts. It is a hardy plant which easily becomes weedy, and...
), Fixweed Tansy-Mustard (Descurainia sophia), Prairie Pepperweed (Lepidium densiflorum
Lepidium densiflorum
Lepidium densiflorum is a species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common names common pepperweed and prairie peppergrass. It is a common and widespread plant in North America, where it grows in many habitats across Canada and the United States...
), Virginia Pepper-Grass (Lepidium virginicum
Lepidium virginicum
Lepidium virginicum, also known as Virginia pepperweed or peppergrass, is an annual or biennial plant in the Brassicaceae or mustard family. It is native to much of North America, including most of the United States and Mexico and southern regions of Canada, as well as most of Central America...
), Radish (Raphanus sativus), Tumble Mustard (Sisymbrium altissimum
Sisymbrium altissimum
Sisymbrium altissimum is a species of Sisymbrium. The plant is native to the western part of the Mediterranean Basin in Europe and Northern Africa and is widely naturalized throughout most of the world, including all of North America. It was probably introduced into North America by a contaminant...
), and Field Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense
Thlaspi arvense
Thlaspi arvense is a foetid Eurasian plant having round flat pods; naturalized throughout North America. It is also related to the Lepidium species in the cabbage family.-Edible uses:...
).