Great Southern White female

  • Family name: Pieridae/Whites and Sulphurs
  • General description: Male white with black forewing apex. Female dirty white to gray with black forewing apex and black forewing cell spot. Ventral hindwing white-yellow in males to gray in females.
  • Field Marks: General: Turquoise antennal clubs Male: white with black forewing apex Female: white to gray with black forewing apex an black cell spot

Great Southern White male

  • Sexes: appear different
  • Wingspan: 45-58 mm
  • Life Cycle: Egg: yellow, spindle-shaped, laid singly or in small clusters on host leaves Mature larva: yellow with gray longitudinal stripes and covered in small black spots Chrysalis: white with black arkings
  • Number of Generations: multiple
  • Flight Season: All year
  • Abundance: Common
  • Habitat: salt marshes, beaches, roadsides, disturbed sites
  • Larval Host Plants: Virginia pepper grass (Lepidium virginicum), saltwort (Batis maritima), limber caper (Capparis flexuosa), sea rocket (Cakile lanceolata)
  • Similar Species: Checkered White
  • Additional Information: Primarily encountered in coastal habitats.
  • Range in Florida

Florida wildflower vehicle license plateThe Florida Wildflowers & Butterflies projects at the Florida Museum are sponsored in part by the State of Florida and the Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc.