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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 3199 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 18, 2026
Submitted by: blgreco
Region: Archuleta County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 17, 2026
Observation date: May 14, 2026
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Harding County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 16, 2026
Observation date: May 15, 2026
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 15, 2026
Observation date: May 07, 2026
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 14, 2026
Observation date: May 10, 2026
Submitted by: erinlale
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2026
Observation date: May 09, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 12, 2026
Observation date: May 11, 2026
Submitted by: Christinalea
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 11, 2026
Observation date: May 08, 2026
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: May 03, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: May 09, 2026
Submitted by: abwest
Region: Bexar County, Texas, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: May 10, 2026
Observation date: May 03, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Kern County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 09, 2026
Observation date: Apr 28, 2026
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 29, 2026
Observation date: Apr 19, 2026
Submitted by: HOFFMER
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 24, 2026
Observation date: Apr 08, 2026
Submitted by: Gkh
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 23, 2026
Observation date: Apr 20, 2026
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 22, 2026
Observation date: Apr 20, 2026
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 22, 2026
Observation date: Apr 20, 2026
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 22, 2026
Observation date: Apr 03, 2026
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Texas, Travis County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 16, 2026
Submitted by: Carolyn Seaton
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Feb 08, 2026
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 09, 2026
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 18, 2026
Observation date: Apr 10, 2026
Submitted by: Carolyn Seaton
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 12, 2026
Observation date: Apr 08, 2026
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 11, 2026
Observation date: Mar 22, 2026
Submitted by: toucan_
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 02, 2026
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