This great southern white has been a tricky one to capture, as it does not stay very long feeding on the blue porterweed, the only nectar plant it seems to visit in the garden. I have been trying to capture this butterfly the last few days. I am hoping to get a closer photo, as our favorite part of this butterfly is the blue-tipped antennae, so eye-catching. I think it’s time to get a saltwort, their host plant, to see if we can attract more and keep the life cycle going.

This species can be found across southern Florida down into the Keys. The males have an irregular black border, which can be seen on the tip of the forewing, as well as the outer portion of its wing. The female has more black on its wings and have a dark spot in the center of the forewing. While the male is mostly white, the female coloring varies from white to dark gray, according to Thomas C. Emmel of “Florida’s Fabulous Butterflies.”