Southern Cabbage Butterfly

This morning, I was able to capture macro photography shots of Southern Cabbage Butterflies, also known as a White Checkered Butterfly or by it's scientific name Pontia Protodice. All shots were taken with a Canon 80D camera.

I'm not exactly sure if this first butterfly is a male or female butterfly, but I believe it is a female. Males are almost all white, small and have a couple of black spots. This one was a medium sized butterfly and has multiple black spots.

Here are shots of a second butterfly, also possibly female, with a chunk that has been taken out of it's wing.

Interesting fact about these butterflies: male butterflies of this species prefer to mate with bigger female butterflies. It is assumed that they feel they can copulate longer with the bigger ones. They are also easier to notice in a meadow or field of plantsx their preferred places to eat and lay their larvae. Long story short, Southern Cabbage male butterflies like the big girls...

Truly a beautiful morning for macro photography!

One love,

@jgullinese