Checkered White - Alabama Butterfly Atlas

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Checkered Whites are sun-loving, nectar-drinking, habitat generalists, yet their populations have declined dramatically over the past 50 years. Their presence on a field trip checklist in Alabama is always a good get, although once a population is found, they may be numerous. There is no obvious reason for their scarcity, although Cabbage Whites are often blamed. These nonnative butterflies swept through North America in the nineteenth century, and they have been viewed as competitors for the same host plants and habitats. Yet Cabbage Whites typically choose cultivated mustard-family host plants like cabbage and broccoli while Checkered Whites are more likely to use wild and weedy mustards like Poorman's Pepperwort.

Checkered Whites' host plant needs may partially explain their scarcity. Their major hosts are early succession annuals that quickly move in to colonize open, disturbed ground but just as quickly disappear as more permanent vegetation takes hold. The butterflies must become opportunistic gypsies, constantly on the move, in search of the next patch of weedy plants that will provide food for their caterpillars. Although they often seem to be "here today, gone tomorrow," home-base populations do exist. Checkered Whites should be sought in large fields and pastures that contain their hosts. In Baldwin County, they sometimes fly in the vicinity of both Great Southern and Cabbage Whites.

Distribution and Abundance

A dot on the county map indicates that there is at least one documented record of the species within that county. In some cases, a species may be common throughout the county, in others it may be found in only a specific habitat. The High Count information shows the highest numbers recorded for this species as well as when and where they occurred.

The sightings bar graphs depict the timing of flight(s) within each of three geographic regions. Place your cursor on a bar within the graph to see the number of individuals recorded during that period.

The abundance calendar displays the total number of individuals recorded within each week of the month. Both the graphs and the calendar are on based data collection that began in 2000.

The records analyzed here are only a beginning. As more data is collected, these maps and graphs will paint a more accurate picture of distribution and abundance in Alabama. Submit your sightings to albutterflyatlas@gmail.com.

Sightings in the following counties: Baldwin, Barbour, Bibb, Bullock, Calhoun, Cherokee, Chilton, Cleburne, Colbert, Covington, Dallas, Elmore, Escambia, Franklin, Geneva, Henry, Jackson, Jefferson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lee, Limestone, Madison, Mobile, Perry, Pike, Shelby, Sumter

Sightings in the past 5 years
Sightings in the past 5 - 10 years
Sightings more than 10 years ago

High count(s):

52 - Madison - 7/21/2020
26 - Madison - 7/26/2018
26 - Madison - 7/17/2020

View county names by moving the mouse over a county or view a map with county names

Jan				Feb				Mar				Apr				May				Jun				Jul				Aug				Sep				Oct				Nov				Dec
1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4	1	2	3	4
1		14					3	8		3	1	1			7	28	21	5	65	10	17	42	47	57	83	161	40	4	20	1	6	3	4	2	13		3	2	3	4	3		1			4	2

Habitat

Early succession open areas that include dry weedy sites, flowering fields, roadsides, pastures, utility right-of-ways; agricultural land, vacant lots.

Host Plants

Weedy members of the Mustard family (Brassicaceae) that include Poor Man's Pepperwort (Lepidium virginicum), Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) and Common Winter Cress (Barbarea vulgaris) are reported from other areas.

The following have been documented in Alabama:

Poorman’s Pepperwort/Virginia Peppergrass (Lepidium virginicum) - Host Plant

For more information about these plants, please visit the Alabama Plant Atlas using the links above.

Landscaping Ideas

Provide a variety of garden worthy, nectar-rich flowers to attract butterflies like Checkered Whites. These include Butterfly Milkweed and other milkweeds; Purple Coneflower and other coneflowers; black eyed susans; phloxes; mountain mints; Common Buttonbush; Joe Pye weeds; gayfeathers/blazing stars; Mistflower; ironweeds; asters; and goldenrods.

If you have a lawn in your landscape, consider letting it be natural. The diverse assemblage of native and nonnative flowering plants and grasses typically found in naturalized lawns provides nectar and host sources for many butterflies including Checkered Whites.