North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Gray Marble (Anthocharis lanceolata)
JPG -- species photo

Gray Marble (Anthocharis lanceolata [Lucas])

Wing span: 1 1/2 - 2 inches (3.8 - 5 cm).

Identification: Forewing slightly pointed, outer margin concave. Top and bottom of forewing white with black cell spot and black margin at tip. Underside of hindwing with dark veins, dense gray marbling, and a white blotch underneath the costal margin.

Life history: Males patrol in valleys or draws for females. Females lay eggs singly on host plant flowers and leaves; caterpillars prefer to feed on flowers and fruits. Chrysalids hibernate.

Flight: One flight from March-June.

Caterpillar hosts: Rock cress (Arabis species) and other mustard family (Brassicaceae) plants.

Adult food: Flower nectar including rock cress.

Habitat: Rocky canyons, draws, forest openings.

Range: Southwest Oregon south to northern Baja California, western edge of Nevada.

Conservation: Not usually required.

Management needs: Not reported.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G3 - Very rare or local throughout its range or found locally in a restricted range (21 to 100 occurrences). (Threatened throughout its range).

References:


Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford  University 

     Press, Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.



Tilden, J. W. 1986. A field guide to western butterflies.  Houghton-Mifflin 

     Co., Boston, Mass. 370 pages, 23 color plates.

Author: Jane M. Struttmann

Gray Marble (Anthocharis lanceolata)
distribution map
map legend

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