Checkered White
Pontia protodice (Boisduval & Leconte, [1830])
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upperside of male forewing has black checkered pattern on outer half. Female is more heavily patterned, but markings are more brown and diffuse. Hindwing of both male and female white. Underside of male hindwing with pale checkered pattern. Underside of female with yellow-tan markings on hindwing and tip of forewing. Short-day form has underside hindwing veins with heavy gray-green outlines.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inches (3.8 - 6.3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol flats seeking receptive females, who lay eggs singly on leaves and flowers of host plants. Buds, flowers, and fruits are favorite foods of caterpillars, but they will also eat leaves. A short-day form appears in spring and fall. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: Three flights, with a partial 4th in the South, from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) including cabbage (Brassica oleraceae); and caper family (Capparidaceae) including Rocky Mountain bee-plant (Cleome serrulata).
Adult Food: Flower nectar including hedge mustards, composites, and alfalfa.
Habitat: Wide variety of sites including dry weedy areas, vacant lots, fields, pastures, sandy areas, railroad beds, and roads.
Range: Permanent resident in southern United States and northern Mexico; temporary in northern United States and southern Canada. Does not occur in most of New England.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None noted.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 3153 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 14, 2025
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Elizabeth Anderegg)
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 16, 2025
Observation date: Nov 15, 2025
Submitted by: misseight
Region: Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Nov 16, 2025
Observation date: Oct 17, 2025
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Oct 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2025
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 26, 2025
Observation date: Sep 08, 2025
Submitted by: Snellzy
Region: Davidson County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Sep 30, 2025
Submitted by: ButterBelle
Region: Putnam County, Tennessee, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 24, 2025
Observation date: Oct 02, 2025
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 12, 2025
Observation date: Sep 27, 2025
Submitted by: CincyJeff
Region: Scioto County, Ohio, United States
Verified by: rogerdowner
Verified date: Oct 09, 2025
Observation date: Oct 05, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 07, 2025
Observation date: Aug 14, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Goshen County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 29, 2025
Observation date: Aug 23, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Torrance County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 26, 2025
Observation date: Aug 30, 2025
Submitted by: Kentonky41015
Region: Kenton County, Kentucky, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 20, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Pennington County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 26, 2025
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 09, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 12, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Sioux County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 08, 2025
Observation date: Jul 29, 2025
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Flathead County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 07, 2025
Observation date: Jul 27, 2025
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Otero County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 01, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2025
Submitted by: klamke
Region: Goshen County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 27, 2025
Observation date: Jul 24, 2025
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 25, 2025
Observation date: Jun 21, 2025
Submitted by: bonfrey
Region: Lincoln County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 22, 2025
Observation date: Apr 19, 2017
Submitted by: Rob Williams
Region: Leon County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 14, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
Observation date: Jun 24, 2019
Submitted by: John Heneghan
Region: Garfield County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 06, 2025
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