Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

California Marble
Euchloe hyantis (W.H. Edwards, 1871)


Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing with narrow cell bar very close to edge of wing. Cell bar usually devoid of white scales. Underside cream-white; hindwing with yellow-green to green marbling.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.8-3.7 cm).
Life History: Males patrol near host plants or on hilltops for receptive females. Eggs are laid singly under host plant leaves; flowers and fruits are the preferred food of the caterpillars. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from April- early July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family, especially Jewel-flower (Streptanthus) species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar including that of hosts and others such as tansy-mustard or pussy-paws.
Habitat: Rocky canyons, cliffs, moraines, gravelly flats.
Range: Southern Oregon south through California west of Sierra Nevada crest to northern Baja California.
Conservation:
NCGR: Euchloe hyantis andrewsi has The Nature Conservancy Global Rank of T1 - Critically imperiled globally because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals). Development and threat from invasive alien weeds are also of concern.
Management Needs: Manage habitat with host plants.
Comments: NULL