© Cathy Cook

Anne U White Trail, Boulder County

Appearance: White above with gray patches at wingtips and either one (male) or two (female) black spots in middle of forewing. Underneath it has a white forewing and a hindwing unmarked and mostly gray white or pale yellow. It is one of our most common and widespread butterflies.

Size: Medium, 1-1/2 to 2 inches

Habitat: Common in open weedy areas, mountains meadows, stream sides and urban and suburban gardens

Season: Early spring through August

Larval Foodplant: Mustard family plants including parsley and cress species

Did You Know...
Introduced into Quebec, Canada in about 1860, it has spread coast to coast and its caterpillars can cause economic damage to crops such as cabbage, broccoli, and collards in gardens (Opler, 1999).