This early spring flying white is very rare in North Carolina, with one known breeding population in the mountain region, near the Tennessee border. This population was discovered only in 2011 and was in the same area the next year, when several individuals were reported. A group of us from the Durham NC area made a wild butterfly chase to the mountains to try to find one before the flight period ended. We were rewarded by this one cooperative individual, which was nectaring on mustard flowers.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Olympia Marbles are small white butterflies that, on the rare occasions when they land and sit still, show a spectacular golden marbling on the underside of the hindwings.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Fresh individuals, like this one, show a pinkish wash near the leading edges of the fore- and hindwings.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Looking closely at the siliques (fruit pods) of some roadside Common Smooth Rockcress, Boechera laevigata, formerly known as Arabis laevigata. I spotted some interesting looking caterpillars blending in with the siliques, which we later identified as Olympia Marble caterpillars!

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.

This tiny caterpillar is an earlier instar.

Madison Co., NC 4/9/2012.