Great Southern White
Ascia monuste

Size:
Wingspan is 2 - 2 1/2 inches.

Similar Species:
Cabbage White

Habitat:
Coastal areas, dunes, tidal marshes and gardens.

Range/Abundance:
Rare or accidental. Found only in coastal areas in SC and in the southern part of NC.

Flight Period:
Adults fly in the region during in late summer or fall.

Larval Host Plants:
Not likely to reproduce in the region. Known to use Cabbages, Collards and Kale in cultivated sites.

Comments:
This species is unlikely to be found easily in our region unless there is a population explosion in Florida and there is a mass migration up the coast. They tend to fly fairly fast at about 6-8 foot off the ground. They tend to perch with the wings half open.

The antennal tips are turquoise and the eyes are yellowish. Cabbage White tends to be smaller and does not have the jagged black outer margin on the tips of the forewings.

The top photo was taken at the NABA International Butterfly Park in Hidalgo Co., TX on December 06, 2004. The second photo was taken at Sabel Palms Audubon in Cameron Co., TX on December 12, 2004. The third photo was taken in the Everglades in FL during December 1998. The bottom photo is from Bahia Honda State Park in Monroe Co., FL on January, 24 2002.

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