Pieris virginiensis, the West Virginia white, is a butterfly found in North America in the Great Lakes states, along the Appalachians from New England to Alabama, and in southern Ontario. They are typically found in moist deciduous forests. Forestry, development, and a highly-invasive species that it confuses with its host plant (Cardamine) are causing this species to decline.[2]
| West Virginia white | |
|---|---|
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| On wild mustard | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Genus: | Pieris |
| Species: | P. virginiensis
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| Binomial name | |
| Pieris virginiensis Edwards, 1870
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Along with the butterfly Pieris oleracea, it is threatened by the invasive weed garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata. The butterflies, having not evolved to be familiar with the plant, confuse it with their host plants. The offspring laid on garlic mustard do not survive.[3][4]
It has translucent whitish wings of length 4.5–5.5 cm; the hindwing underside has brownish or pale gray scaling along the veins.
Literary references
editIn line 316 of Pale Fire by Vladimir Nabokov, this butterfly is referenced: “The Toothwort White haunted our woods in May.” The moniker refers to its habit of laying eggs on the toothwort.
References
edit- US Geological Survey: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center: West Virginia White Butterfly
- BugGuide: Species Pieris virginiensis – West Virginia White
- Pieris
- Specific
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 Pieris virginiensis West Virginia White". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 3 October 2020.
- ^ Lotts, K., Naberhaus, T., 2016. "West Virginia White". Butterflies and Moths of North America. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Pieris-virginiensis
- ^ Driesche, F.V.; Blossey, B.; Hoodle, M.; Lyon, S.; Reardon, R., 2010. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. http://wiki.bugwood.org/Archive:BCIPEUS
- ^ Davis, Samantha Lynn (2015). Evaluating threats to the rare butterfly, Pieris virginiensis (PhD dissertation). Wright State University.
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