Ganyra josephina explained

Ganyra josephina, the giant white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae.

Subspecies

The following subspecies are recognized:

• G. j. josephina - nominate subspecies (Hispaniola; Dominican Republic, Haiti)
• G. j. josepha (Salvin & Godman, 1868) (southern Texas, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua)
• G. j. krugii (Dewitz, 1877) (Puerto Rico, Mona Island)
• G. j. janeta (Dixey, 1915) (Venezuela, Trinidad)
• G. j. paramaryllis (Comstock, 1943) (Jamaica)

The former subspecies Ganyra josephina menciae, the Cuban white, has been separated as its own species, Ganyra menciae.^[1]

Distribution and habitat

It is found from southern Texas through Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America to northern South America. The habitat consists of open, dry, subtropical forests.^[2]

Description

The wingspan is 73mm96mm. Adults are on wing from September to December in southern Texas. They feed on flower nectar from a variety of weeds and garden plants including Lantana, Eupatorium and Bougainvillea.^[2]

The larvae feed on older leaves of Capparidaceae species.^[2]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Cuban White Ganyra menciae (Ramsden, [1914]) Butterflies and Moths of North America ]. 2024-01-31 . www.butterfliesandmoths.org.
2. http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/species/Ganyra-josephina Butterflies and Moths of North America