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.
Get your BAMONA Gear!
Please donate!
We depend on donations to keep Butterflies and Moths of North America freely available. We want to express our gratitude to all who showed their support by making a contribution this year. You can donate to support this project at any time.
Advertise with us!
Do you have a product or service that you think would interest BAMONA users? If you would like to advertise on this website, contact us by email, or use the contact form and select the "Advertising" category.
Verified Sightings
Displaying 49 - 72 of 547 verified sightings
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
Observation date: Jun 27, 2019
Submitted by: magnolyah
Region: Costa Rica
Verified by: Charlie Doggett
Verified date: Jul 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 01, 2021
Submitted by: Sue Bocchicchio
Region: Monroe County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jul 15, 2022
Observation date: May 11, 2022
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 13, 2022
Observation date: May 04, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: May 05, 2022
Observation date: Apr 23, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 24, 2022
Observation date: Apr 05, 2022
Submitted by: Bill Uttenweiler
Region: Brevard County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 06, 2022
- ‹ previous
- 3 of 23
- next ›