Female. Peters Canyon, Orange, Orange County, CA.  10/15/05.
Photo copyright: Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu). Contact for originals.

Checkered White

Pontia protodice

Lepidoptera: Pieridae

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Female. Peters Canyon, Orange, Orange County, CA.  10/15/05.
Photo copyright: Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu). Contact for originals.
Female. Limestone Canyon, Orange County, CA. 4-27-09. Copyright: Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu). Original available from Biological Photo Service

Female. What is the red spot? Santiago Truck Trail, Orange County, CA. 4/25/09. Photo copyright: Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu). Contact for originals.
Red spot on female. Santiago Truck Trail, Orange County, CA. 4/25/09. Photo copyright: Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu). Contact for originals.

Female. Thomas E. Riley Wilderness Park, Coto de Caza, Orange County, CA. 5-20-09.
Copyright: Ron Hemberger
Female ovipositing. Thomas E. Riley Wilderness Park, Coto de Caza, Orange County, CA. 5-20-09. Copyright: Ron Hemberger

Male. Photo copyright: Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu). Contact for originals.
Male. Santiago Truck Trail, Orange County, CA. 4/25/09. Photo copyright: Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu). Contact for originals.

Mating pair. Peters Canyon, Orange, Orange County, CA. 7-20-09. Copyright Ron Hemberger
Mating pair. Peters Canyon, Orange, Orange County, CA. 7-20-09. Copyright Ron Hemberger

Mating pair. Peters Canyon, Orange, Orange County, CA. 7-20-09. Copyright Ron Hemberger 		 


Larva. Photo copyright: Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu). Contact for originals.


Pupa. Photo copyright: Peter J. Bryant (pjbryant@uci.edu). Contact for originals.

Characteristics: Ventral wings with greenish markings (absent on Pieris rapae). Female heavily marked on dorsal wings with black-brown. Forewing length: 21-26 mm.

Similar Species: The male of this species and Pieris rapae look similar and would be hard to distinguish in flight.

Habitats, Behavior: The Common White is often encountered in semi-disturbed sites, but almost never in urbanized areas and rare1y in the chaparral plant community.

Distribution: Found primarily in the foothills, undeveloped lowlands, and sometimes in vacant lots within Orange County. The Checkered White also occurs frequently in the canyons of the Santa Ana Mountains.

Flight Period: Our records extend from early February to late October, although the species probably could be found throughout the year. Multiple brooded, the spring brood (April-May) is the largest.

Larval Foodplants: Mustard. Emmel and Emmel (1973) list the following "mustards" (all of which are common in Orange County) as larval foodplants: Cleome, Brassica and Sisymbrium. Other introduced cruciferous plants are also said to be utilized.

From Orsak, L. J. (1977). The Butterflies of Orange County, California. Center for Pathobiology Miscellaneous Publication #3. University of California Press, New York. 349pp.

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