Western White
Pontia occidentalis (Reakirt, 1866)
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upperside of forewing has marginal markings that are lighter than the submarginal stripe. Below, forewing tip and hindwing have veins outlined with gray-green. Short-day spring and fall forms have more prominent markings.
Wing Span: 1 1/2 - 2 1/8 inches (3.8 - 5.3 cm).
Life History: Males patrol hilltops and ridges for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on host plants. Caterpillars will feed on leaves but prefer buds, flowers, and fruits. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from June-July in far north; two flights from May-August in the south.
Caterpillar Hosts: Flowers and fruits of various members of the mustard (Brassicaceae) family.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Mountain peaks, slopes, hilltops, railroad yards, open plains, roadsides.
Range: Alaska south to central California, northern Arizona and northern New Mexico; east to North Dakota and central Ontario.
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.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 217 - 240 of 660 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 25, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 15, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Nevada County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 11, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Lassen County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jun 21, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (B. Smith)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 30, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Sierra County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 06, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Nevada County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 01, 1973
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (R. Gardner)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 10, 1985
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Aug 08, 1974
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (S. R. Sims)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Sep 07, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Nevada County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Oct 23, 1972
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (A. M. Shapiro)
Region: Nevada County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 06, 2010
Observation date: Jul 08, 1951
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Lloyd Martin)
Region: Inyo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Jan 05, 2010
Observation date: Aug 18, 1952
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Jul 08, 1957
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Aug 03, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (John S. Garth)
Region: Mariposa County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Aug 15, 1957
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Jul 09, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Aug 29, 1957
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Jul 20, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Jul 09, 1958
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Oakley Shields)
Region: Tuolumne County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (Garth & Tilden)
Verified date: Oct 20, 2009
Observation date: Jun 23, 1935
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (J. W. Tilden)
Region: El Dorado County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Oct 15, 2009
Observation date: Jul 11, 2009
Submitted by: davidwdroppers (David Droppers)
Region: Chelan County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers (David Droppers)
Verified date: Aug 21, 2009
Observation date: Jul 13, 1976
Submitted by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport (Ken Davenport)
Verified date: Aug 18, 2009
Observation date: Aug 10, 1996
Submitted by: legacy.reporter (Bruce & Bret Boyd)
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: legacy.verifier (George T. Austin)
Verified date: Aug 18, 2009
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