Western White
Pontia occidentalis (Reakirt, 1866)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing has marginal markings that are lighter than the submarginal stripe. Below, forewing tip and hindwing have veins outlined with gray-green. Short-day spring and fall forms have more prominent markings.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/8 inches (3.8 - 5.3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol hilltops and ridges for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on host plants. Caterpillars will feed on leaves but prefer buds, flowers, and fruits. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from June-July in far north; two flights from May-August in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: Flowers and fruits of various members of the mustard (Brassicaceae) family.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Mountain peaks, slopes, hilltops, railroad yards, open plains, roadsides.
Range: Alaska south to central California, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico; east to North Dakota and central Ontario.
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 289 - 312 of 691 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 09, 2007
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 18, 2009
Observation date: Aug 19, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Aug 18, 2009
Observation date: Aug 02, 1975
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 18, 2009
Observation date: Jul 31, 1954
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (C. H. Ericksen)
Region: Tulare County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 18, 2009
Observation date: Jul 11, 2009
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 10, 2009
Observation date: Aug 25, 2008
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Paul Opler and Joe Mammoser)
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Sep 29, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Skamania County, Washington, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (An Atlas of Washington Butterflies by John Hinchliff)
Verified date: Aug 14, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Lewis County, Washington, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (An Atlas of Washington Butterflies by John Hinchliff)
Verified date: Aug 14, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Wahkiakum County, Washington, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (An Atlas of Washington Butterflies by John Hinchliff)
Verified date: Aug 14, 2008
Observation date: Jul 16, 2007
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Eureka County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: paulopler (Paul Opler)
Verified date: Aug 07, 2008
Observation date: Aug 04, 2000
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bill Gendron)
Region: Madera County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Apr 22, 2008
Observation date: Jun 30, 1998
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (ALS)
Region: Yukon-Koyukuk, Alaska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 23, 2008
Observation date: Jun 24, 1999
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (JLH)
Region: North Slope, Alaska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 23, 2008
Observation date: Jun 20, 2004
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (KWP)
Region: Southeast Fairbanks, Alaska, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Lepidopterists' Society Season Summary)
Verified date: Jan 23, 2008
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Baker County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Hyde County, South Dakota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Laramie County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Garfield County, Washington, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Weld County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Gooding County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Jefferson County, Montana, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Burleigh County, North Dakota, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
Observation date: unknown
Submitted by: legacy.reporter
Region: Douglas County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier
Verified date: Dec 31, 2004
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