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 3176 verified sightings
Observation date: Mar 22, 2026
Submitted by: toucan_
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 02, 2026
Observation date: Mar 29, 2026
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 30, 2026
Submitted by: Mzteachuh
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 29, 2026
Submitted by: erinlale
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 31, 2026
Observation date: Mar 23, 2026
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 29, 2026
Observation date: Mar 23, 2026
Submitted by: Janet Ruth
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 29, 2026
Observation date: Mar 22, 2026
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 25, 2026
Observation date: Mar 17, 2026
Submitted by: zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 19, 2026
Observation date: Mar 01, 2026
Submitted by: TJM321
Region: Texas, Williamson County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Mar 02, 2026
Observation date: Feb 07, 2026
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 13, 2026
Observation date: Feb 08, 2026
Submitted by: zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 08, 2026
Observation date: Feb 05, 2026
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Feb 08, 2026
Observation date: Feb 06, 2026
Submitted by: Tra_naturehikes
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 07, 2026
Observation date: Jan 17, 2026
Submitted by: tnjbodker
Region: Hidalgo County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 01, 2026
Observation date: Jun 14, 2024
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Apache County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 19, 2026
Observation date: Jan 16, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
Observation date: Jan 16, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
Observation date: Jan 16, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
Observation date: Jan 16, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
Observation date: Jan 16, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 18, 2026
Observation date: Nov 03, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 17, 2026
Observation date: Apr 03, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 15, 2026
Observation date: Oct 20, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jan 13, 2026
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
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