Bug FAQSmall Ant-heap White
Dixeia pigea · Order: Lepidoptera · Family: Pieridae
Also called: Ant-heap Small White, Antheap White, ant-heap white
It lives in open areas of riverine forest, thick bush and sunny flower-bush edges across Africa and can be seen flying all year with a medium-fast, somewhat weak flight.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
A yellow streak on the hindwing costal area distinguishes Dixeia pigea from other Dixeia species.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Wingspan ranges from 40 to 48 mm in males and 40 to 52 mm in females.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They prefer open spots in riverine forest, thick bush, and the edges of sunny flowering bushes.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Both sexes feed on nectar from flowers, especially those on sunny bushes.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Adults are on the wing throughout the year. Their flight is described as medium-fast and random, or rather weak and slow.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
They can be observed flying in any month of the year.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Dixeia pigea is native to Africa.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
Unlike other Dixeia species, D. pigea has a yellow streak on the hindwing costal area.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
When can I see these butterflies?
They are active and can be seen flying all year round.
Source: Wikipedia
What plants do the caterpillars eat?
The larvae feed on Capparis sepiaria and Capparis tomentosa.
Source: Wikipedia
How can I tell this butterfly apart from other white butterflies?
A yellow streak on the hindwing costal area sets Dixeia pigea apart from its relatives.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Pieridae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixeia_pigea
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.