Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Desert Marble
Euchloe lotta Beutenmüller, 1898


Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing with cell bar very close to edge of wing. Cell bar usually wide and devoid of white scales, but may be narrow in some populations. Underside pearly white; hindwing with dark green marbling.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3.2 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol on hilltops or ridges for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly on host plant leaves, flowers, or fruits. Flowers and fruits are the preferred food of the caterpillars. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from March-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family including rock cress (Arabis), peppergrass (Lepidium), and tansy-mustard (Descurainia).
Adult Food: Flower nectar including that of hosts and others such as phloxes.
Habitat: Deserts, rocky canyons, hills, ridges, open pinyon-juniper woodlands.
Range: Interior of south British Columbia east of Cascades and Sierra Nevada south to southern California, east to Colorado and New Mexico.
Conservation: None reported.
NCGR: G5, globally secure.
Management Needs: Manage habitat with host plants.
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