# Great Southern White (*Ascia monuste*) The Great Southern White is a beautiful butterfly with white wings and black edges. They flutter around gardens and fields, bringing joy with their graceful flight. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, gardens, fields ![Great Southern White](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Ascia_monuste_monuste_MHNT_dos.jpg&width=800) Photo: Didier Descouens, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ascia_monuste_monuste_MHNT_dos.jpg) ## Appearance The Great Southern White is a medium-sized butterfly with chalky white wings. Males are usually pure white, while females often have dark gray or black markings near the wingtips and veins. Their underwings can display mottled yellowish or greenish patterns, making them distinct from pure white lookalikes. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Pieridae - **Genus:** Ascia ## Interesting facts - Great Southern Whites can be found soaring through the sky in many warm countries across the Americas! - Males are usually pure white, but females often have dark markings on their wingtips. - These butterflies help flowers by carrying pollen from one plant to another as they sip nectar. - This butterfly starts life as a tiny, green caterpillar that loves to munch on cabbage! ## Special abilities - **Mustard Muncher Defense:** Great Southern White larvae can eat toxic mustard plants because it makes them taste bad to predators. - **Migration Maestro:** Great Southern White can fly thousands of miles because some populations migrate to warmer climates for winter. - **Rapid Reproducer:** Great Southern White has many generations per year that helps them quickly increase their numbers. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 45-70 mm - **Size:** 20-30 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-28 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip sweet flower nectar, while caterpillars munch on leaves like tiny herbivores! - **Age differences:** Larvae eat leaves of host plants, while adults primarily feed on flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Flower Nectar, Cabbage Leaves, Cleome Leaves, Mustard Family Plants - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Cabbage](https://www.snappit.app/explore/cabbage) (*Brassica oleracea*) — Larvae munch on its leaves. - **Eats:** [Carolina Mantis](https://www.snappit.app/explore/carolina-mantis) (*Stagmomantis carolina*) — A predator of adult butterflies. - **Pollinates:** [Lantana](https://www.snappit.app/explore/lantana) (*Lantana camara*) — A common nectar source. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Camouflaged](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/camouflaged): Camouflaged describes organisms that possess coloring or patterns that allow them to blend into their environment. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Be gentle and watch butterflies from a distance so they feel safe. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Great Southern White? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Great Southern White's wingspan? 45-70 mm ### How big is Great Southern White? 20-30 mm ### How long does Great Southern White live? 14-28 days ### How fast can Great Southern White fly? 10 km/h ### What does Great Southern White eat? Adults sip sweet flower nectar, while caterpillars munch on leaves like tiny herbivores! ### Where is Great Southern White usually found? Urban areas, gardens, fields ### How does Great Southern White hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [San Antonio Missions National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/san-antonio-missions-national-historical-park) — Texas, US · National Park - [St. Augustine Town Plan Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/st-augustine-town-plan-historic-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area at Flagler Beach](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/gamble-rogers-memorial-state-recreation-area-at-flagler-beach) — Florida, US · State Park - [Homestead Historic Downtown District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/homestead-historic-downtown-district) — Florida, US · Historic District - [Naples Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/naples-botanical-garden) — Florida, US · Botanical Garden - [South Texas Botanical Gardens & Nature Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/south-texas-botanical-gardens-and-nature-center) — Texas, US · Botanical Garden [View all places to see Great Southern White](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/great-southern-white) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Great Southern White: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-southern-white)