West Virginia White - Hodges#4196
Pieris virginiensis
This record describes Pieris virginiensis (species). Recorded family: Pieridae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wings are translucent, whitish, with no yellowish tint underneath. Underside of hindwings with blurry brown or pale gray scaling along veins. The introduction of the non-native garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata endangers this butterfly that sometimes lays its eggs on it but the caterpillars find it indigestible.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Papilionoidea
- Family
- Pieridae (Whites, Sulphurs, Yellows)
- Subfamily
- Pierinae
- Tribe
- Pierini
- Genus
- Pieris
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
Moist deciduous woodlands or mixed woods.
Geographic Range
Northern Great Lakes states and from New England southwest along the Appalachians to north Georgia and northeast Alabama.
Seasonal Activity
In the North, one flight in May; in the South, one flight from April-May.
Diet and Behavior
Diet: Caterpillar hosts: Toothworts (Dentaria diphylla and D. laciniata) in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family. Adult food: Flower nectar from toothworts, spring beauty, violets, and other plants.
Life History
Males patrol slowly to locate females. Eggs are laid singly on undersides of host plant leaves. Chrysalids hibernate on stems or plant litter under the plant.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Pieris virginiensis. 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 West Virginia White - Hodges#4196 (5)
Photo credits: Contributed by Joel Kits; Additional contributions by Steve Nanz , Beatriz Moisset , Matthew Roth
Frequently Asked Questions About West Virginia White - Hodges#4196
What is West Virginia White - Hodges#4196?
West Virginia White - Hodges#4196 (Pieris virginiensis) is a species in the family Pieridae, within the order Lepidoptera.
How big is West Virginia White - Hodges#4196?
Wing span: 1 3/4 - 2 1/8 inches (4.5 - 5.3 cm).
How do you identify West Virginia White - Hodges#4196?
Wings are translucent, whitish, with no yellowish tint underneath. Underside of hindwings with blurry brown or pale gray scaling along veins.
Where is West Virginia White - Hodges#4196 found?
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Habitat | Moist deciduous woodlands or mixed woods. |
| Range | Northern Great Lakes states and from New England southwest along the Appalachians to north Georgia and northeast Alabama. |
What does West Virginia White - Hodges#4196 eat?
The diet of the West Virginia White - Hodges#4196 includes Caterpillar hosts: Toothworts (Dentaria diphylla and D. laciniata) in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family. Adult food: Flower nectar from toothworts, spring beauty, violets, and other plants..
When is West Virginia White - Hodges#4196 active?
West Virginia White - Hodges#4196: seasonal activity - In the North, one flight in May; in the South, one flight from April-May..
What is the life cycle of a West Virginia White - Hodges#4196?
Males patrol slowly to locate females. Eggs are laid singly on undersides of host plant leaves. Chrysalids hibernate on stems or plant litter under the plant.