Large Marble - Hodges#4200
Euchloe ausonides
This record describes Euchloe ausonides (species). Recorded family: Pieridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Adult: forewing upperside chalky white with large black discal spot (black bar that touches costa) with extensive dusting of white scales, and dark pattern at apex; underside of hindwing with dense reticulate pattern of yellowish-green marbling Larva: body dark bluish-gray with many black dots and lengthwise bands of yellow and white
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Pieridae (Whites, Sulphurs, Yellows)
- Subfamily
- Pierinae
- Tribe
- Anthocharidini
- Genus
- Euchloe (Marbles)
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
generally open forested areas, particularly around pines; may be found in valleys, hillsides, meadows, and other open sunny areas
Geographic Range
mostly western North America (Alaska and Yukon to northwestern Ontario south of the treeline, south through Minnesota to northern New Mexico, west to California)
Seasonal Activity
adults fly from April to July in the north; in central California, flies from February to April and again from May to August; flight is a relatively slow zigzagging pattern
Diet and Behavior
Diet: larvae feed on a wide variety of members of the mustard family, including Tower Rockcress ( Arabis glabra ), Drummond's Rockcress ( Arabis drummondii ), Dyer's Woad ( Isatis tinctoria ), and Tumble Mustard ( Sisymbrium altissimum ) adults nectar on flowers of the mustard family and other plants such as fiddleneck ( Amsinckia spp.) and brodiaeas
Life History
female lays single egg on flower bud of host plant; overwinters as a pupa inside chrysalis; one generation per year
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Euchloe ausonides. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Large Marble - Hodges#4200 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Robin McLeod; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Chuck Entz
Frequently Asked Questions About Large Marble - Hodges#4200
What is Large Marble - Hodges#4200?
Large Marble - Hodges#4200 (Euchloe ausonides) is a species in the family Pieridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is Large Marble - Hodges#4200?
wingspan 30-48 mm in Canada ( Butterflies of Canada ); 38-51 mm in United States ( nearctica.com )
How do you identify Large Marble - Hodges#4200?
Adult: forewing upperside chalky white with large black discal spot (black bar that touches costa) with extensive dusting of white scales, and dark pattern at apex; underside of hindwing with dense reticulate pattern of yellowish-green marbling Larva: body dark bluish-gray with many black dots and lengthwise bands of yellow and white
Where is Large Marble - Hodges#4200 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | generally open forested areas, particularly around pines; may be found in valleys, hillsides, meadows, and other open sunny areas |
| Range | mostly western North America (Alaska and Yukon to northwestern Ontario south of the treeline, south through Minnesota to northern New Mexico, west to California) |
What does Large Marble - Hodges#4200 eat?
The diet of the Large Marble - Hodges#4200 includes larvae feed on a wide variety of members of the mustard family, including Tower Rockcress ( Arabis glabra ), Drummond's Rockcress ( Arabis drummondii ), Dyer's Woad ( Isatis tinctoria ), and Tumble Mustard ( Sisymbrium altissimum ) adults nectar on flowers of the mustard family and other plants such as fiddleneck ( Amsinckia spp.) and brodiaeas.
When is Large Marble - Hodges#4200 active?
Large Marble - Hodges#4200: seasonal activity - adults fly from April to July in the north; in central California, flies from February to April and again from May to August; flight is a relatively slow zigzagging pattern.
What is the life cycle of a Large Marble - Hodges#4200?
female lays single egg on flower bud of host plant; overwinters as a pupa inside chrysalis; one generation per year