West Virginia White

Endemic to the Eastern United States.

WSU Vancouver

June 10, 2022

Geography

Range Map

West Virginia white (Pieris virginiensis) is currently found East of the Mississippi River and in the Great Lakes Region. Observations outside the Appalachian Mountain Range tend to be sparse.

Study Area

Our data for West Virginia whites come from Portage County, Ohio.

The information comes from the Ohio Lepidopterists which surveys butterfly communities at multiple sites each year.

Natural History

Species interactions

Host Plant

Caterpillars feed on toothworts (Dentaria diphylla and D. laciniata) in the mustard family.

Nectar Plants

Adults nectar on their host plants and other spring flowers.

Invasive Species

The spread of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata) is a major threat. The butterflies believe the plant is their hostplant, but larvae die when they consume it.

Habitat

West Virginia whites are found in moist deciduous woodlands or mixed woods that are relatively undisturbed by invasive plants and human activities such as timber development.

Population Dynamics

The biggest threat to the species is the spread of garlic mustard which is a toxic decoy. Butterflies lay their eggs on the plant, accepting it as a hostplant. But all their offspring will die once they try to consume garlic mustard.
The butterfly may be able to adapt to consuming garlic mustard, but because the population was disrupted prior to the introduction of the toxic decoy they may die out before adaptations occur.
More research is needed to track the declining populations, especially where they overlap with garlic mustard.
Studies on the movement of butterflies may be able to inform conservation activities to deter butterflies from areas with garlic mustard.

Life Cycle

Adult

Butterflies emerge in March and are present through May. They produce one generation each year (univoltine).

Eggs

Females lay eggs singly on the underside of leaves.

Caterpillars

Caterpillars hatch and immediately begin consuming host plant until they are large enough to form a chrysalis.

Chrysalis

These butterflies overwinter in their chrysalis on stems of the host plant or in the plant litter on the ground. The chrysalises are yellow then fade to white in the first days after forming.

Conservation

Listing Status

This butterfly is currently listed as globally imperiled . No state that has been ranked is secure.

It is believed that this butterfly is at high risk of extinction due to the spread of garlic mustard.

Recovery Efforts

Butterfly Monitoring

In Ohio, cooperative efforts exist between the Metro Parks system and Ohio Lepidopterists to manage habitat for many butterfly species.

In 2004, butterfly transects were established by Metro Parks and the Ohio Lepidoperists in cooperation with a statewide butterfly monitoring program. This program is run by the Ohio Division of Wildlife and the Cleveland Museum of Natural History .

Population Trends

We had information about West Virginia whites at one site. This site has had a small decline over time, and a large delay. They delay could result in less interaction with flowering garlic mustard.