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 169 - 192 of 688 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 06, 2016
Submitted by: sseagrave
Region: Sheridan County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 07, 2016
Observation date: Jun 30, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: Jul 15, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Feb 11, 2016
Observation date: May 27, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 17, 2015
Observation date: Jul 09, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 17, 2015
Observation date: May 27, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 17, 2015
Observation date: Jul 09, 2015
Submitted by: bobscafe
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Nov 17, 2015
Observation date: Oct 01, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Adams County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 08, 2015
Observation date: Oct 01, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Adams County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 08, 2015
Observation date: Jul 12, 2015
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Gunnison County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Sep 20, 2015
Observation date: Jul 04, 2015
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Snohomish County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 27, 2015
Observation date: Jul 31, 2015
Submitted by: shastamax
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 02, 2015
Observation date: Jul 02, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 11, 2015
Observation date: Mar 26, 2015
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Grant County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 13, 2015
Observation date: Mar 27, 2015
Submitted by: carlysummer
Region: Park County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Apr 02, 2015
Observation date: Aug 10, 2014
Submitted by: Indy Entomologist
Region: Yukon-Koyukuk, Alaska, United States
Verified by: Norbert Kondla
Verified date: Mar 21, 2015
Observation date: Jun 01, 2014
Submitted by: carlysummer
Region: Adams County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 10, 2015
Observation date: Aug 07, 2014
Submitted by: davidwdroppers
Region: Skagit County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 13, 2014
Observation date: Jul 12, 2014
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 24, 2014
Observation date: Jul 12, 2014
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 24, 2014
Observation date: Jul 14, 2014
Submitted by: JDreimiller
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 22, 2014
Observation date: Aug 30, 2013
Submitted by: rbuist
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: Tom Middagh
Verified date: Jul 20, 2014
Observation date: Jul 04, 2014
Submitted by: Sue Orlowski
Region: Lincoln County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 14, 2014
Observation date: Sep 21, 2013
Submitted by: Frederike Hofstra
Region: Grand County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 22, 2014
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