Spring White
Pontia sisymbrii (Boisduval, 1852)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upperside of both wings with dark veins on white to creamy yellow background; front wing cell bar is narrow. Veins of underside of hindwing may be edged widely with olive.
Wing Span: 1 1/4 - 1 3/4 inches (3 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol hilltops, ridges, or bottoms of canyons in search of females. Eggs are laid singly on any part of the host plants. Young caterpillars feed on leaves, older ones on flowers. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from February-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae) including hedge mustard (Sisymbrium), rock cresses (Arabis), and tansy-mustard (Descurainia) species.
Adult Food: Not reported.
Habitat: Desert hills and other dry slopes, rocky canyons and outcrops, roadsides, open coniferous forests.
Range: British Columbia south to Baja California, east to western Nebraska and western South Dakota.
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.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 561 verified sightings
Observation date: Apr 15, 2011
Submitted by: Cascade Colors
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jul 19, 2022
Observation date: May 05, 2022
Submitted by: sgguthart
Region: Larimer County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 27, 2022
Observation date: Apr 30, 2022
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Fremont County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: Jun 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 21, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Rio Arriba County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 22, 2022
Observation date: Apr 15, 2022
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Santa Fe County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 16, 2022
Observation date: Apr 11, 2022
Submitted by: Joshua C
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 13, 2022
Observation date: Apr 08, 2022
Submitted by: mashoop58
Region: Bernalillo County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 11, 2022
Observation date: Apr 05, 2022
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 08, 2022
Observation date: Apr 15, 2021
Submitted by: Smew
Region: Butte County, California, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Feb 20, 2022
Observation date: Feb 10, 2022
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Jun 22, 2013
Submitted by: davidelwonger
Region: Teller County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: jwileyrains
Verified date: Jan 26, 2022
Observation date: Apr 02, 2017
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Nov 23, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Trinity County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 04, 2021
Observation date: Apr 29, 2021
Submitted by: topper72
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 08, 2021
Observation date: Apr 25, 2021
Submitted by: otusasiotours
Region: Douglas County, Colorado, United States
Verified by: mikefisher
Verified date: May 03, 2021
Observation date: May 01, 2021
Submitted by: Cactuswren1976
Region: Los Alamos County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: May 03, 2021
Observation date: Apr 10, 2021
Submitted by: Shearwater13
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2021
Observation date: Apr 10, 2021
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 12, 2021
Observation date: Mar 05, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Grant County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 11, 2021
Observation date: Mar 28, 2021
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 29, 2021
Observation date: Mar 19, 2021
Submitted by: butterflies4us
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 20, 2021
Observation date: May 05, 2008
Submitted by: Dwaine Wagoner
Region: Natrona County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jan 11, 2021
Observation date: May 02, 2020
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Dec 02, 2020
Observation date: Jun 08, 2020
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2020
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