Pieris oleracea
| Mustard white | |
|---|---|
.jpg) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Tribe: | Pierini |
| Genus: | Pieris |
| Species: | P. oleracea |
| Binomial name | |
| Pieris oleracea Harris, 1829 | |
Pieris oleracea, the mustard white, is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. Its historical range is in the Great Lakes area of the United States and southern Canada. The caterpillars feed on brassica-type plants and the adults feed on flower nectar.[1] Some authors consider P. oleracea to be a subspecies of the green-veined white, Pieris napi, of Eurasia.[2] Unlike Pieris napi, however, Pieris oleracea cannot use garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata, as a host plant.
Its survival, along with that of Pieris virginiensis, is threatened by the invasive weed garlic mustard, Alliaria petiolata. The butterflies, having not evolved to be familiar with the plant, confuse it with their host plants. The offspring laid on garlic mustard do not survive.[3]
Similar species
- Pieris napi – green-veined white
- Pieris virginiensis – West Virginia white
- Pieris marginalis – margined white
References
- ↑ "BMNA Species Detail Mustard White". Retrieved 2009-05-19.
- ↑ Howe, William H. The Butterflies of North America (Garden City, NY: Doubleday, 1975)
- ↑ Driesche, F.V.; Blossey, B.; Hoodle, M.; Lyon, S.; Reardon, R., 2010. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the Eastern United States. USDA Forest Service. Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. http://wiki.bugwood.org/Archive:BCIPEUS
External links
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Wikispecies has information related to: Pieris oleracea |
- Mustard white, Butterflies and Moths of North America
- Mustard white, Butterflies of Canada
- Species Pieris oleracea - mustard white, BugGuide