Neophasia menapia (Pieridae)

the white pine butterfly

Adults:

Neophasia menapia, the white pine butterfly, adult female; note that it is slightly more yellow in colour than the male.

Neophasia menapia, the white pine butterfly, adult male. 		White with black wing markings (resembles the common cabbage white butterfly) females are yellowish while males are pure white. Note clubbed antennae.


Larvae:

Neophasia menapia larvae. Green with two white lateral stripes. Rounded head capsule directed downwards.


Damage:

Damage caused to pine needles by feeding of Neophasia menapia larvae. Adults are day time flyers and can be seen about crowns in August on the coast and Vancouver Island. Larvae feed on single needles, gregariously at first, later they feed individually. During epidemics they may consume the entire needle, both old and new.


Principal Hosts:

ponderosa pine, western white pine, lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir and even larch.

Economic Importance:

Mature trees are more susceptible than younger, more vigourous trees. The effects of larval feeding are seldom evident, except in 1961 it became necessary to spray 650 hectares of Douglas-fir on Vancouver Island.

References and Links:

EAG: 485; FC: 240.