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No other white has the black leading forewing edge, joined to the black mark at the end of the discal cell. Of the described subspecies, Canadian populations have been assigned to menapia (Bird et al. 1995, Layberry et al. 1998), but more recent treatments suggest the most appropriate name for our populations is tau (Austin 1998, Guppy & Shepard 2001).

The eggs overwinter after they are laid at the base of conifer needle clumps. They are bright green and flask-shaped with longitudinal ridges (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Mature larvae are dark green with a white dorsal and lateral stripe, and have short tails a t the posterior end (Guppy & Shepard 2001). The Pine White has occasional population outbreaks, and larvae can cause severe defoliation of conifers (Guppy & Shepard 2001). Adults spend a good deal of time among the uppermost branches of conifers, and descend to nectar at flowers, particularly in the morning and evening (Guppy & Shepard 2001).

Southern half of BC south to California and New Mexico (Opler1999). There are only a few records for Alberta, all originating prior to 1923 from the Banff area (Bird et al. 1995). It is possible that these specimens represent occasional strays from adjacent areas of BC, and that this is not a resident species in Alberta.