Large
White Skipper butterfly Larval food plants
The Larva of the Large White Skipper feeds on
plants fro the family Malvaceae. Some specific species include,
Malacothamnus
davedsonii, M.
fasiculatus, Spheralcia
ambigua, Athea rosea, and Eemalache rotundifolia.
Malacothamnus
davedsonii is a large open shrub with gray foliage and
light pink flowers. M.
fasiculatus, is very similar but the flowers are a deeper
pink.
Spheralcia
ambigua is one of the most beautiful mallows in
California. It grows naturally in the desert regions. It has
intense orange flowers and gray foliage. It is very floriferus
and very drought tolerant.
The
Large white Skipper butterfly also likes to sip from mud gaining
moisture as well as minerals.
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Adult Large White Skipper butterfly nectar
sources
Adult Large White Skipper butterflies like a
variety of flowers for nectar. In the Photo below a male sips
from a Lobelia
dunnii serrata flower. He was quite fond of this plant
fluttering around it and coming back repeatedly for nectar.
Lobelia
dunnii serrata is a short herbacios perennial with bright
blue flowers. It seems to always be flowering and it likes part
to full shade.
The
female large white skipper is much darker than the male. In the
photo below both are sipping nectar from a Rabbitbrush,
Chrysothamnus nauseosus flower. Rabbitbrush is a
dessert shrub with light green stems and bright yellow flowers.
Their flowers are very popular with butterflies.
The
Large White Skipper also likes Senecio
douglasii flowers. This is an excellent plant for
attracting insects. You can find all manner of beetle and
butterfly on them. They are also bright showy.
Like many other butterflies they also like
Yerba Santas especially Eriodiction
californicum and E.
crassifolium. These are both open shrubs usually fairly
sort in hight. They are coveted for their medicinal purposes.   
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