Pontia protodice

Checkered White Butterfly

Introduction:

The butterfly has a chalky white base color with black spots and markings. Males have spots mainly on the forewings, while females have more extensive dark markings on both forewings and hindwings.
Life Cycle: The species overwinters in the chrysalis stage, with adults active from spring through fall.

Size wingspan is 1.25–1.75 inches (3.2–4.4 cm)
Sexual Dimorphism: true
Metamorphosis: complete (egg, larva, pupa, adult)

This butterfly requires elevated body temperatures of 30-40 degrees Celsius in order to fly, and this is achieved by behavioral orientation to solar radiation. Pieris butterflies, including P. protodice use a behavioral posture for thermoregulation called reflectance basking, in which the wings are used as a sort of biological solar reflector in order to reflect radiation to the body and increase body temperature.

Insect Data

Names and Taxonomy

Common Names: Checkered White Butterfly
Synonyms: Pieris protodice
Order: Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
Family: Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus Information: 1 species in NV, 1 in CA, 6 in US

Distribution

Distribution: mostly southern of North America
Seen: Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve
Habitat: dry, open areas like old fields, prairies, and pastures
Food: Adults feed on flower nectar, and their larvae eat common pepper-grass and other plants in the mustard family.