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 25 - 48 of 3153 verified sightings
Observation date: May 29, 2015
Submitted by: rileypeper
Region: Salt Lake County, Utah, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jun 03, 2020
Submitted by: sydneyrc
Region: Utah County, Utah, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jul 05, 2025
Observation date: Jul 03, 2025
Submitted by: Dogoszhi
Region: Socorro County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jul 04, 2025
Observation date: Jun 20, 2025
Submitted by: Tatiana Staats
Region: Sarasota County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Jun 20, 2025
Observation date: Jun 18, 2025
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Orangeburg County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 19, 2025
Observation date: Jun 13, 2025
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Colfax County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Jun 14, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2025
Submitted by: JerryGriggs
Region: Transylvania County, North Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: Jun 12, 2025
Observation date: May 25, 2025
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Harney County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 04, 2025
Observation date: May 25, 2025
Submitted by: sandyleapt
Region: Harney County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 03, 2025
Observation date: May 29, 2025
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 31, 2025
Observation date: May 15, 2025
Submitted by: bshettler
Region: Manitoba, Canada
Verified by: chalicerae
Verified date: May 31, 2025
Observation date: May 22, 2025
Submitted by: DeepSkyKelly
Region: Union County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 26, 2025
Observation date: May 04, 2025
Submitted by: billd
Region: Kingfisher County, Oklahoma, United States
Verified by: CA Ivy
Verified date: May 25, 2025
Observation date: May 22, 2025
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe (Donna Forsythe)
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 25, 2025
Observation date: Apr 30, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Cochise County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 18, 2025
Observation date: Apr 28, 2024
Submitted by: hasfitz5
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: May 18, 2025
Observation date: May 16, 2025
Submitted by: Dennis Forsythe
Region: Charleston County, South Carolina, United States
Verified by: Dennis Forsythe
Verified date: May 17, 2025
Observation date: Aug 17, 2008
Submitted by: cfield
Region: Mason County, West Virginia, United States
Verified by: curtis.lehman
Verified date: May 02, 2025
Observation date: Jul 07, 2024
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Taos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 14, 2025
Observation date: Apr 02, 2025
Submitted by: Blue Swallowtail
Region: Adams County, Nebraska, United States
Verified by: Emily Geest
Verified date: Apr 09, 2025
Observation date: Apr 03, 2025
Submitted by: Bjbrownhall
Region: Pinellas County, Florida, United States
Verified by: John Calhoun
Verified date: Apr 06, 2025
Observation date: Mar 30, 2025
Submitted by: Sheilabean
Region: Texas, Tarrant County, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Apr 03, 2025
Observation date: Apr 18, 2016
Submitted by: papilio1
Region: Washoe County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 24, 2025
Observation date: Jun 07, 2024
Submitted by: blablancwilis
Region: Douglas County, Kansas, United States
Verified by: James Steen
Verified date: Mar 04, 2025
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