White Butterflies
| Pieridae: White Butterflies Pieris: Cabbage White Yellow Butterflies Butterfly Pictures |
The Pieridae family of butterflies, more commonly knows as the whites (Pierinae) and sulphur or yellow butterflies (Coliadinae), inhabit ecological niches across North America.
Whites (Pierinae), a fairly diverse subfamily, count over two dozen species in a dozen genera within their ranks.
The Great Southern White (Ascia monuste), top picture, has neotropical origins, and a native range limited to southern areas of the United States.
The blue clubs at the and of the antennae serve as the best field identification clue for the species.
From mustards to pines, white butterfly larvae display an eclectic palate. Pine Whites (Neophasia menapia), common Western species, fly wherever pine trees grow.
The picture shows a top view of the wings. The curved border line on the top of the wing that starts at the body is a key identification mark.
Six different Orangetips (genus Anthocharis), the most colorful of the white butterflies, make their presence known from coast to coast.
Their larvae also feed on plants in the mustard family, common North American plants, which partially explains their extended range.
Usually the very prominent orange tipped wings get matched with an equally dull pattern for the underside of the wings. The pattern serves as camouflage while the orangetip rests with wings folded.
Four Pontia species, collectively called checkered whites also make a prominent showing across North America.
The Checkered White butterfly (Pontia protodice), for examples, flies wherever the caterpillar's food, mustard plants, grow.
The picture shows a female with an elaborate black or dark checker pattern covering the otherwise white wings. The markings on the wing borders are complimented by a dark bar on the top middle portion of the wing.
The Western White butterfly (Pontia occidentalis) a similar looking Pontia species, extends its range through much of the Rocky Mountain region to western coastal areas.
Females, like the one in the fourth picture, are characterized by a dark spotted pattern on the top and bottom wings. According to most experts, the pattern on the Western White female is typically darker than the pattern on the Checkered White female.
Comparing wing patterns on the males is often the best way to differentiate between Western Whites and Checkered Whites.
The row of black spots on the border of the top wing in the Western White male on the bottom picture is larger than the marks that border the Checkered White. The bottom wing lacks dark spots or patterns.
As noted, many of the white butterflies evolved by creating a relationship with mustard food sources. Researchers hypothesize that their ability to consume and digest the toxic substances in mustard provides them with an additional defense against predators.
The links in the box point to articles with additional information covering white and yellow butterflies.
© 2008-2011 Patricia A. Michaels