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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 25 - 48 of 529 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 18, 2017
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Feb 06, 2023
Observation date: Jan 19, 2023
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Feb 01, 2023
Observation date: Oct 27, 2022
Submitted by: tonzetich
Region: St. Lucia
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jan 27, 2023
Observation date: Nov 13, 2022
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Jan 26, 2023
Observation date: Jul 09, 2019
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: San Salvador, The Bahamas
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 23, 2021
Submitted by: David F Smith
Region: Sonora, Mexico
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Dec 15, 2022
Observation date: Dec 07, 2022
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Dec 07, 2022
Observation date: Mar 27, 2022
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Collier County, Florida, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 03, 2022
Observation date: Dec 05, 2015
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Pinar del Rio, Cuba
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Nov 05, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: bchensel
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Nov 01, 2022
Observation date: Jan 14, 2017
Submitted by: Airoben
Region: Bonaire
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 24, 2022
Observation date: Feb 29, 2020
Submitted by: Reiner Jakubowski
Region: Jamaica
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Jul 10, 2015
Submitted by: pretzeleater
Region: Cayman Islands
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 22, 2022
Observation date: Jun 04, 2015
Submitted by: Allen Belden
Region: St. John, Virgin Islands, United States
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 22, 2022
Observation date: Dec 22, 2017
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 17, 2022
Observation date: Jul 06, 2017
Submitted by: Charlie Doggett
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Oct 17, 2022
Observation date: Feb 20, 2017
Submitted by: Paul Tavares
Region: Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 16, 2022
Observation date: Feb 08, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Yucatan, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Mar 23, 2018
Submitted by: Eric Wood
Region: Camaguey, Cuba
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Nov 06, 2019
Submitted by: tirvine2020
Region: Jamaica
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Oct 22, 2020
Submitted by: JOSE SALGADO
Region: Puerto Rico
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Nov 15, 2020
Submitted by: memse
Region: Baja California Sur, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 14, 2022
Observation date: Jul 18, 2017
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Chiapas, Mexico
Verified by: Paul Prappas
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Mar 11, 2015
Submitted by: tom murray
Region: Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Aug 03, 2022
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