Pieridae: Sulphurs and Whites

Subfamily Coliadinae — Sulphurs
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Colias eurytheme page Colias eurytheme - Orange Sulphur
· Many Fabaceae family plants inc. alfalfa, but also clovers and species of Astragalus, Acmispon and even lupines.
Link to Colias harfordii page Colias harfordii - Harford's Sulphur
· Astragalus mostly, but also Acmispon species inc. A. glaber (Fabaceae family)
Link to Zerene cesonia cesonia page Zerene cesonia cesonia - Southern Dogface
· False prarie clover, Marina parryi; also Dalea species (Fabaceae)
Link to Zerene eurydice page Zerene eurydice - California Dogface
· False Indigo (Amorpha fruticosa, A. californica) (Fabaceae)
Link to Phoebis sennae marcellina page Phoebis sennae marcellina - 'Southwestern' Cloudless Sulphur
· Senna species, with Senna armata (Fabaceae) a good native choice
Link to Phoebis agarithe fisheri Phoebis agarithe fisheri - Large Orange Sulphur
· Non-native Fabaceae-family landscape plants, inc. Pithecellobium dulce
Link to Abaeis mexicana mexicana page Abaeis mexicana mexicana - Mexican Yellow
· Strays in from AZ and Mex.; possible larval food plant in CA unknown
Link to Abaeis nicippe page Abaeis nicippe - Sleepy Orange
· Senna armata, Senna covesii (Fabaceae)
Link to Nathalis iole page Nathalis iole - Dainty Sulphur
· A few Asteraceae family plants, inc. San Felipe dogweed (Adenophyllum porophylloides) and Spanish needle (Palafoxia arida)
Others
• Kriconia lyside - Very rare stray.
• Phoebis philea - Rare stray, but a Senna-feeder that may establish populations here eventually.

Subfamily Pierinae — Whites
Link Butterfly and host plant
Link to Anthocharis cethura cethura page Anthocharis cethura cethura - Desert Orangetip
· Mustards (Brassicaceae) including lacepod (Thysanocarpus curvipes) and yellow tansy mustard (Descurainia pinnata)
no photos yet Anthocharis cethura catalina - 'Catalina' Desert Orangetip
Mustards (Brassicaceae)
no photos yet Anthocharis cethura morrisoni - 'Morrison's' Desert Orangetip
Mustards (Brassicaceae)
no photos yet Anthocharis cethura hadromarmorata - Marbled Desert Orangetip
Mustards (Brassicaceae)
no photos yet Anthocharis cethura mojavensis - Mojave Desert Orangetip
Mustards (Brassicaceae)
link to page with photographs of the Pima Desert Orangetip - Anthocharis cethura pima Anthocharis cethura pima - Pima Orangetip
· Mustards (Brassicaceae)
Link to Anthocharis sara sara Anthocharis sara sara - Sara Orangetip
· Several mustards (Brassicaceae) including lacepod (Thysanocarpus curvipes), Nevada rockcress (Boechera perennans)
no photos yet Anthocharis sara gunderi - Gunder's Orangetip
Boechera species (Brassicaceae); Catalina
link to photos of Anthocharis thoosa near thoosa from the eastern Mojave desert mountains Anthocharis thoosa nr thoosa - Thoosa Orange-tip
· Tansy Mustard (Descurainia pinnata, other mustards inc. G. lasiophylla and S. longirostris (Brassicaceae); E. San Bern. Co.
no photos yet Anthocharis lanceolata lanceolata - Gray Marble
Boechera (Brassicaceae)
Link to Anthocharis lanceolata australis page Anthocharis lanceolata australis - Grinnell's Gray Marble
· Mustards, esp. Sicklepod Rockcress (Boechera sparsiflora)
Link to Anthocharis lanceolata desertolimbus page Anthocharis lanceolata desertolimbus - 'Desert Edge' Gray Marble
· Nevada rockcress (Boechera perennans) (Brassicaceae)
Euchloe ausonides ausonides - Large Marble
Mustards (Brassicaceae); SLO, Tulare Cos.
Link to Euchloe hyantis hyantis page Euchloe hyantis - Pearly Marble
· Mustards (Brassicaceae) inc. Descurainia spp.
Link to Euchloe hyantis lotta page Euchloe (hyantis) lotta -'Desert' Pearly Marble
· Mustards inc. Tansy Mustard (Descurainia) (Brassicaceae)
Link to Euchloe andrewsi page Euchloe andrewsi - Andrew's Marble
· Streptanthus bernardinus and campestris (Brassicaceae)
no photos yet Neophasia menapia menapia - Pine White
Pines
no photos yet Neophasia menapia tehachapina - Tehachapi Pine White
Pines
Pieris marginalis venosa - Large Veined White
Mustards (Brassicaceae)
Link to Pieris rapae page Pieris rapae - Cabbage White
· Mustards inc. garden varieties (Brassicaceae)
Link to Pontia beckerii page Pontia beckerii - Becker's White
· Bladderpod (Peritoma arborea) in the Cleomaceae, and wild mustards, inc. especially Prince's plume (Stanleya pinnata)
Link to Pontia protodice page Pontia protodice - Checkered White
· A number of native and non-native mustards inc. Sisymbrium species, and occasionally bladderpod (Peritoma arborea).
Link to Pontia sisymbrii page Pontia sisymbrii sisymbrii - Spring White
· Boechera perennans, B. pulchra, Caulanthus hallii, perhaps other mustards (Brassicaceae)
link to photos of Pontia sisymbrii nigravenosa Pontia sisymbrii nigravenosa - Dark Veined White
· Mustards (Brassicaceae)
Notes
• Euchloe (hyantis) andrewsi and Neophasia menapia tehachapina appear to be in danger of extinction.

 

©Dennis Walker