Pontia occidentalis

Western white

Secure (NatureServe)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Pontia
Species:
P. occidentalis
Binomial name
Pontia occidentalis
Reakirt, 1866

Pontia occidentalis, the western white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is found in Western North America.

Description

The upperside of the forewing has marginal markings that are lighter than the submarginal stripe. Below, forewing tips and hindwings have veins outlined in gray-green. The wingspan is 38 to 53 millimeters. The host plants are from the mustard or cabbage family, Brassicaceae. The caterpillars eat especially the flowers, buds and fruit. In the north of the range, one generation flies in June and July; in the south two generations fly from May to August.[2]

References

  1. ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2026-03-08.
  2. ^ "Western White Pontia occidentalis (Reakirt, 1866) | Butterflies and Moths of North America". www.butterfliesandmoths.org. Retrieved 2026-03-08.