Checkered White (Pontia protodice) is in the Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs family (Pieridae). Across the U.S., iNaturalist users have logged 31,994 research-grade observations of it in our sample, peaking in April.
Seasonal pattern in the national data: seasonal. Counts also reflect when people are out photographing, so compare months within a state rather than across states.
When to photograph Checkered White: observations by month (U.S.)
About Checkered White
Pontia protodice, the checkered white or southern cabbage butterfly, is a common North American butterfly in the family Pieridae. Its green larva is a type of cabbage worm.From Wikipedia via iNaturalist — article, CC BY-SA.
Checkered White by state
| State | Observations | Peak month | Main season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas | 13,484 | April | Apr–May |
| California | 7,692 | June | Mar–Oct |
| Arizona | 2,264 | April | Feb–Jun |
| New Mexico | 1,806 | July | Apr–Sep |
| Colorado | 1,459 | July | May–Oct |
| Florida | 953 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Oklahoma | 613 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Utah | 441 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Arkansas | 401 | July | Apr–Nov |
| Nevada | 394 | April | Apr–Jul |
| Missouri | 376 | July | May–Oct |
| Kentucky | 264 | August | Jul–Sep |
| Tennessee | 234 | August | Apr–Sep |
| Georgia | 199 | May | Apr–Jun |
| Kansas | 196 | June | Apr–Oct |
| Ohio | 136 | September | Jul–Oct |
| Idaho | 130 | July | Jul–Oct |
| North Carolina | 124 | August | May–Oct |
| Nebraska | 112 | July | May–Jul |
| Alabama | 96 | June | Apr–Aug |
| Illinois | 78 | August | Jun–Aug |
| Louisiana | 75 | June | Apr–Jul |
| Wyoming | 51 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Oregon | 45 | July | Jul–Sep |
| Virginia | 40 | October | Jul–Nov |
| South Dakota | 37 | August | Jun–Sep |
| South Carolina | 35 | May | May–May |
| Indiana | 33 | August | Jun–Oct |
| Montana | 33 | July | Jun–Sep |
| Iowa | 31 | September | Apr–Sep |
| North Dakota | 28 | August | Aug–Oct |
| Michigan | 25 | August | Aug–Aug |
| Minnesota | 25 | September | Jun–Oct |
| Maryland | 24 | September | Jul–Sep |
| Mississippi | 21 | June | Jun–Jul |
| New York | 9 | September | Sep–Sep |
| Wisconsin | 9 | June | Jun–Oct |
| New Jersey | 8 | September | Jul–Oct |
| West Virginia | 6 | March | Mar–Mar |
Main season = months with at least 30% of the state's peak-month count.
Related butterflies (Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs)
Small White
Orange Sulphur
Cloudless Sulphur
Sleepy Orange
Dainty Sulphur
Little Yellow
Clouded Sulphur
Southern Dogface
Photography tips
- Butterflies are sluggish on cool mornings — the best time for close approaches.
- Keep the sensor parallel to the wings for edge-to-edge sharpness.
- Nectar plants in bloom are reliable places to wait.
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Checkered White?
Nationally, April has the most observations, with the main season from March to July.
Where is Checkered White most often seen?
The most observations come from Texas, California, Arizona.