Great Southern White
Ascia monuste (Linnaeus, 1764)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upper surface of male forewing white with black zigzag pattern on outer margin. Dry season female form resembles male with heavier black zigzag pattern and a small black spot in the wing cell. Wet-season female is darkened with black scales above and below.
Wing Span: 2 1/2 - 3 3/8 inches (6.3 - 8.6 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for females. Eggs are laid on the upper surface of host plant leaves in groups of about 20.
Flight: All year in South Texas, peninsular Florida, and along the Gulf Coast.
Caterpillar Hosts: Mustard family (Brassicaceae) plants including beach cabbage (Cakile maritima), cultivated cabbage and radish, peppergrass (Lepidium species); and plants in the caper family (Capparidaceae) including nasturtium.
Adult Food: Nectar from many species of flowers including saltwort, lantana, and verbena.
Habitat: Salt marshes, coastal dunes, open fields, and gardens.
Range: Resident of south Atlantic and Gulf coasts south through tropical America. Migratory along the Southeastern coast. Strays to Maryland, Kansas, and Colorado.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None noted.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 438 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 03, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 06, 2021
Observation date: Jan 25, 2014
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Lee County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 31, 2021
Observation date: Mar 23, 2021
Submitted by: GivemeButterflies
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 24, 2021
Observation date: Mar 18, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 21, 2021
Observation date: Mar 17, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 17, 2021
Observation date: Apr 04, 2008
Submitted by: BarbSendelbach
Region: Cameron County, Texas, United States
Verified by: stomlins701
Verified date: Mar 16, 2021
Observation date: Mar 25, 2017
Submitted by: Sophia Kurtz
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 12, 2021
Observation date: Mar 10, 2021
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Mar 12, 2021
Observation date: Feb 26, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 28, 2021
Observation date: Feb 16, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 16, 2021
Observation date: Jan 25, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 29, 2021
Observation date: Jan 18, 2021
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 19, 2021
Observation date: Jul 14, 2018
Submitted by: ROBERT B KIELBOWICZ
Region: Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Verified by: drerbium
Verified date: Jan 07, 2021
Observation date: Dec 30, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 31, 2020
Observation date: Dec 02, 2020
Submitted by: storolaf
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 03, 2020
Observation date: Nov 22, 2020
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Nov 23, 2020
Observation date: Nov 18, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 22, 2020
Observation date: Jul 16, 2020
Submitted by: sciguy67
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 19, 2020
Observation date: Aug 16, 2019
Submitted by: eroutside
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 11, 2020
Observation date: Jun 27, 2020
Submitted by: LunaMar
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 01, 2020
Observation date: Jun 14, 2020
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Marion County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 14, 2020
Observation date: May 06, 2020
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 19, 2020
Observation date: May 05, 2020
Submitted by: Ava Reinstein
Region: Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 05, 2020
Observation date: Apr 26, 2020
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: McIntosh County, Georgia, United States
Verified by: Mikelchap
Verified date: May 01, 2020
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