• Butterflies
• Dragonflies
• Damselflies
• Tiger beetles
• Hike with Mike

• The butterflies:
• Whites and Sulphurs
  • Whites
  • Sulphurs
• Whites
  • Checkered White
  • Western White
  • Mustard White
  • West Virginia White
  • Cabbage White
  • Olympia Marble
  • Falcate Orangetip

West Virginia White

(Pieris virginiensis)

The West Virginia White is an uncommon butterfly in Wisconsin that is very similar to the Mustard White. In fact, the two species were once thought to be the same species, so it is not surprising that they would be hard to tell apart. Ebner (1970) noted that, “accurate determinations of the West Virginia White often require the assistance of Pierid specialists”. I thought that I had seen and photographed this species in 2006, but upon reviewing my photos in May of 2007 I think that I had misidentified them and had even posted them as this species. My previous photos of spring Mustard Whites were very distinctive, with a definite yellowish tinge to the hindwing and the forewing tip, and very dark veins on the hindwing beneath. The individuals that I misidentified did not seem to have any yellowish tinge to the wings below and did not have the veins as dark as the Mustard Whites that I was familiar with, so I had assumed that they must be West Virginia Whites. However, the veining does not seem to be anything like the veining shown in most typical photos of this species so I have moved them to the bottom two photos on the Mustard White page. I do know that Mustard Whites were present at the same locations later in the summer, but I had originally thought the Mustard Whites had just flown earlier in the spring.

Identifying characteristics: Above, this butterfly is plain white butterfly with no dark spots. Below, it has light gray, somewhat diffuse, scaling of the veins beneath, and no yellow tinge to the hindwing below.

Similar species: Cabbage Whites that are worn may have very faded dark spots and markings, but the Cabbage White does not show obvious darkened veins below. : The main difference between this species and the Mustard White is that in the spring, the West Virginia White has lighter, grayish, and somewhat diffuse scaling of the veins, and the background coloration of the West Virginia White below is white, whereas the coloration of the Mustard White is usually somewhat yellowish, with definitely more prominent, darkened veins.(see photo of the spring Mustard White).

Habitat: Woodlands where its larvae host, Toothworts, grow.

Flight: One brood, May to early June.

Abundance: Not commonly encountered in Wisconsin, but may become fairly common where seen.

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