Checkered White
Pontia protodice (Boisduval & Leconte, [1830])
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upperside of male forewing has black checkered pattern on outer half. Female is more heavily patterned, but markings are more brown and diffuse. Hindwing of both male and female white. Underside of male hindwing with pale checkered pattern. Underside of female with yellow-tan markings on hindwing and tip of forewing. Short-day form has underside hindwing veins with heavy gray-green outlines.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/2 inches (3.8 - 6.3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol flats seeking receptive females, who lay eggs singly on leaves and flowers of host plants. Buds, flowers, and fruits are favorite foods of caterpillars, but they will also eat leaves. A short-day form appears in spring and fall. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: Three flights, with a partial 4th in the South, from March-November.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) including cabbage (Brassica oleraceae); and caper family (Capparidaceae) including Rocky Mountain bee-plant (Cleome serrulata).
Adult Food: Flower nectar including hedge mustards, composites, and alfalfa.
Habitat: Wide variety of sites including dry weedy areas, vacant lots, fields, pastures, sandy areas, railroad beds, and roads.
Range: Permanent resident in southern United States and northern Mexico; temporary in northern United States and southern Canada. Does not occur in most of New England.
Conservation: Not required.
NCGR: G4 - Apparently secure globally, though it might be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: None noted.
Comments: NULL
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 2944 verified sightings
Observation date: Nov 11, 2022
Submitted by: JudyLY
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 23, 2022
Observation date: Nov 05, 2022
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Nov 08, 2022
Observation date: Oct 28, 2022
Submitted by: DA Coulter
Region: Gillespie County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 28, 2022
Observation date: Jul 29, 2021
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 23, 2022
Observation date: Oct 21, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 22, 2022
Observation date: Oct 15, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Alfalfa County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Oct 21, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Arapahoe County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Oct 15, 2022
Observation date: Mar 24, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 13, 2022
Observation date: Aug 07, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: San Miguel Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2022
Observation date: Oct 08, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Mar 19, 2021
Submitted by: chherrmann
Region: Brewster County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Oct 09, 2022
Observation date: Sep 20, 2022
Submitted by: robtluke@aol.com
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Oct 07, 2022
Observation date: Sep 24, 2022
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kay County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: Sep 28, 2022
Observation date: Sep 23, 2022
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 25, 2022
Observation date: Sep 18, 2022
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Sep 24, 2022
Observation date: Sep 12, 2022
Submitted by: Pheasantboy77
Region: Valley County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Sep 23, 2022
Observation date: Jul 22, 2020
Submitted by: mikeconley
Region: St. Louis County, Missouri, United States
Verified by: jamesdurbin
Verified date: Sep 17, 2022
Observation date: Jan 29, 2014
Submitted by: janazak
Region: Morelos, Mexico
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Sep 16, 2022
Observation date: Jul 09, 2022
Submitted by: tjay13
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 05, 2022
Observation date: Mar 01, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Sep 03, 2022
Observation date: Aug 30, 2022
Submitted by: twofried
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Sep 01, 2022
Observation date: Aug 24, 2022
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Yavapai County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Aug 31, 2022
Observation date: Jun 16, 2019
Submitted by: dbryant562
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Aug 20, 2022
Observation date: Aug 18, 2022
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Shasta County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 18, 2022
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