The Checkered White is a common butterfly found across much of the United States, ranging in size from small to medium. Males have mostly white wings with scattered brown-black markings concentrated near the tips of the forewings. Females display bolder, darker patterns on their wings, which help attract mates, though their wings remain predominantly white.

 

“Checkered White” by Ken Slade, licensed under (CC BY-NC 2.0)

 

Checkered White Facts

Butterfly Family: Whites and Sulphurs (Pieridae)

Butterfly Subfamily: Pierinae

Butterfly Wingspan: 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 inches

Butterfly Habitat: Wide variety of sites including dry weedy areas, vacant lots, fields, pastures, sandy areas, railroad beds, and roads

 

🪴 Host Plants

These are the plants where females lay eggs and caterpillars feed:

• Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica)

• Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata)

• Field Pepperweed (Lepidium campestre)

• Mustard (Brassica spp.)

• Peppergrass (Lepidium spp.)

• Radish (Raphanus sativus)

• Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

 

🌸 Nectar Plants

Adult Checkered White butterflies feed on nectar from a variety of native flowers:

• Blanket Flower (Gaillardia pulchella)

• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale)

• Fleabane (Erigeron spp.)

• Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)

• Phlox (Phlox paniculata or P. divaricata)

• Tickseed (Coreopsis spp.)

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)