female margined white / grey-veined white
female Pieris marginalis venosa (aka Pieris napi venosa)
male margined white nectaring on California milkmaids
nectaring on Cardamine californica
Brassicaceae
Brassicaceae
Check out the cool yellow "shoulder" in the first pic above. I'm so glad we finally found the macro setting on our ol' camera! A small patch of milkmaids near the water was a very popular nectaring spot, being visited by butterflies, bee flies, and honey bees. There's not much in bloom, so it's worth noting that just down the way the patch of western coltsfoot had no visitors.
I also spotted margined whites at Stevens Creek last week, which at first sight I knew were related to cabbage whites (look at that dot on the male), but second guessed myself when I went to look for an ID. I've totally missed the margined white ID before based on the fact I rely heavily on two quick references which omit entirely or misrepresent the early spring, first brood, bold version that I find in the area. The summer brood is apparently almost all white. It doesn't help that there doesn't seem to be much consensus on the Pieris "napi" complex. I need to add notations to my field guides, so I can remember this for next time.
I also spotted margined whites at Stevens Creek last week, which at first sight I knew were related to cabbage whites (look at that dot on the male), but second guessed myself when I went to look for an ID. I've totally missed the margined white ID before based on the fact I rely heavily on two quick references which omit entirely or misrepresent the early spring, first brood, bold version that I find in the area. The summer brood is apparently almost all white. It doesn't help that there doesn't seem to be much consensus on the Pieris "napi" complex. I need to add notations to my field guides, so I can remember this for next time.
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