West Virginia White

S1/S2

West Virginia White

Scientific Name

(Pieris virginiensis )

The West Virginia White is a small, spring butterfly in the Pieridae family (1, 2). They range from northern Minnesota to eastern Quebec and then south through the Appalachians to Georgia (2). This butterfly stays within the shade of the deciduous forests and out of sunny fields (2). In Maryland, they can only be found in Garrett, Allegany, Washington, and Frederick Counties (3) and have a state rank of (S1/S2).

Photo retrieved from wiki imagesLicensed under: CC BY-SA 3.0

Photo retrieved from wiki imagesLicensed under: CC BY-SA 4.0

Identification

The West Virginia White has a wingspan of about 1.5 inches. Their rounded forewings are mostly translucent and cloudy white with little to no markings (4, 5). The undersides are brownish-grey with dark scaling along the hindwing veins (4, 6). Females often have more grey than males (4).

Life Cycle

The West Virginia White is a rare species with one generation per year. Females lay eggs singly on host plants, most commonly toothwort plants from the Mustard family (1, 2, 3, 7); these may include Broad-leaved Toothwort (Dentaria diphylla) and Cut-leaved Toothwort (Dentaria laciniata) as well as rockcresses (1, 3). Unfortunately, females will sometimes lay their eggs on Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) (7). Garlic Mustard is an invasive weed that contains chemicals toxic to the caterpillars (1, 3). The toxins on the leaves greatly reduce survival through the larval stage, threatening their abundance (7).

Caterpillars begin as a yellowish-green color and darken with maturity. They have short hairs and yellow-green dorsal and lateral lines. This species hibernates as a chrysalis and adults emerge and fly from April to May (8).

Habitat

The West Virginia White prefers well shaded and moist woodlands containing Toothwort (3, 7, 8). As an adult, they can be seen frequenting several species of violets (8). The most common violet plants in Maryland are the common blue violet (Viola sororia), marsh blue violet (Viola cucullata), field pansy (Viola bicolor), primrose-leaved violet (Viola primulifolia), and striped white violet (Viola striata) (9).

Distribution in Maryland

Data from Maryland Biodiversity Project. Includes historical records and may overrepresent the current range of the species.

How can you help?

Forest fragmentation and the spread of invasive Garlic mustard are potential threats to the West Virginia White (5). To help this species we need to preserve their natural habitat where toothwort is common and control the spread of Garlic mustard, a toxic invasive plant.

Invasive Garlic Mustard

Photo by Bill HubickRetrieved from Maryland Biodiversity Project

Larval Host Plants:

Photo retrieved from Wiki imagesLicensed under: Creative Commons CC0 License

Broad-leaved Toothwort

Photo by: Jay Sturner Licensed under: CC BY 2.0

Cut-leaved Toothwort

Adult Plants:

Photo by James SteakleyLicensed under: CC BY-SA 3.0

Common Blue Violet

Photo retrieved from wiki images Licensed under: CC BY-SA 3.0

Field Pansy

Photo by Bo Gordy- StithLicensed under: CC BY 2.0

Marsh Blue Violet

Photo by Jim Stasz. Retrieved from Maryland Biodiversity Project

Primrose-leaved Violet

Photo by Jim Stasz. Retrieved from Maryland Biodiversity Project

Striped White Violet

References

Davis, S. L., Frisch, T., Bjarnholt, and N., Cipollini, D. 2015. How does garlic mustard lure and kill the West Virginia white butterfly? Journal of Chemical Ecology v41 n10: 948-955. DOI:10.1007/s10886-015-0633-3.
Cappuccino, N., and P. Kareiva. 1985. Coping with a capricious environment: a population study of a rare Pierid butterfly. Ecology v66 n1 (19850201): 152-161.
Maryland Biodiversity. 2020. Pieris virginiensis (W.H. Edwards, 1870) https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/view/4869. Last accessed 25 October 2020.
James, B.. 2005. Conservation Assessment for the West Virginia White (Pieris virginiensis Edwards). USDA Forest Service, Eastern Region. https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fsm91_054237.pdf.
New York Natural Heritage Program. 2020. Online Conservation Guide for Pieris virginiensis. Available from: https://guides.nynhp.org/west-virginia-white/. Accessed October 26, 2020.
Butterflies and Moths of North America. 2020. West Virginia White Pieris virginiensis (W.H. Edwards, 1870) https://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Pieris-virginiensis. Last accessed 25 October 2020.
Davis, S. L. 2013. How environmental conditions and changing landscapes influence the survival of a rare butterfly, Pieris virginiensis (Pieridea). Journal of the Lepidopterists’ Society 68(1), 2013, 61–65.
Davis, L. and R. Smith. 2014. Butterflies of Maryland: A biological checklist. Maryland Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife and Heritage Division. https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Documents/butterfliesofmaryland_biological-summary_checklist.pdf.
Maryland's Department of Natural Resources. 2013. Maryland native plant profile: violets. Habitat v18n4. Available from: https://dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/HabichatArchive/Habichat40.pdf .

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