CHECKERED WHITE
I suspect that some Checkered Whites are flying under the radar because they look so similar to our ubiquitous Cabbage White butterflies. So keep your eyes peeled and you might spot one of these rarities!
Checkered White butterfly. This species is generally rare in Ohio. The individual at left is a male, which could easily be mistaken for the MUCH more common Cabbage White. The differences are apparent upon closer inspection.
I had a few sightings of this species in September and October 2012, which was a good year for migratory butterflies. Then, after that, I did not see another Checkered White until I found a lone male on September 25, 2021. I saw no Checkered Whites for the next two years, until 2024. That was a breakout year for the species.
This is a female Checkered White. Females are more heavily marked than the males.
In July 2024, I found two females along the Great Miami River near Middletown. Then, in October and November 2024, I saw dozens of Checkered Whites at Oakes Quarry in Fairborn. It was an amazing temporary population of them.
This species used to be more common in Ohio than it is now. Checkered Whites have had a significant population crash. There are many theories as to what caused this decline. One theory is that the butterflies are being tricked into laying their eggs on non-native garlic mustard. The caterpillars cannot handle the high levels of toxic chemicals in garlic mustard.