Family Pieridae - Whites and Yellows

Classification · Other Common Names · Remarks · Print References · Works Cited

Cloudless Sulphur Caterpillar - Phoebis sennae

Cabbage Butterfly Caterpillar - Pieris rapae

Caterpillar on Streptanthus cordatus - Pontia sisymbrii

Show images of: caterpillars · adults · both

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)

Superfamily Papilionoidea (Butterflies)

Family Pieridae (Whites and Yellows)

Other Common Names

Pierids

Remarks

"The family Pieridae contains many species, most of which are white or yellow, marked with black and orange. They are usually called ' whites' or 'sulphurs'. In fact, the common name, 'butterfly', indicates this yellow or yellow-orange color of the insects. This common name was probably first applied to yellow European members of this family. They are very abundant and are often found at mud puddles. There are many common forms, such as the cabbage butterfly, (Pieris rapae), one of our most abundant and widespread species, generally recognized by everyone."(1)

Print References

Arnett & Jacques (1)

Works Cited

1.	Simon & Schuster's Guide to Insects By Dr. Ross H. Arnett, Dr. Richard L. Jacques

Contributed by Troy Bartlett on 9 March, 2004 - 5:52pm
Additional contributions by Matthew Roth
Last updated 5 October, 2005 - 7:59pm

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