photo by Kayleigh WilIiams

Orange-tip

Anthocharis cardamines

Prefered habitat -

woodland, hedgerows, parks and gardens

Food Source

Caterpillar foodplants: cuckooflower, garlic mustard. They are also cannibalistic, sometimes eating the eggs of unhatched orange-tips.

Adults: feed on nectar to fuel their flight and reproduction. They often feed on flowers from the Brassicaceae family & spring-blooming wildflower

Local Site -

Hendre Lake

A Bit About Me

Historical names for the orange-tip include lady of the woods, prince of orange and the white marbled butterfly. Subtle, delicate and well-disguised – that is until the male flashes a splash of bright orange.

The female usually lays a single brood of eggs each year, but if spring starts early enough, there may be a small second brood. The caterpillars hatch on the developing seed pods of cuckooflower and garlic mustard. After going through several instars (growth between moulting) and pupation by July, orange-tip butterflies leave their chrysalis at the start of spring. They are one of the earliest butterflies to appear which did not overwinter as adults.

Identification

Caterpillars: pale orange at first, becoming blue-green with a white line down each side. They are very difficult to spot.

Adults: the upper sides of the wings are white. Males have orange-tipped forewings and females have small black tips. Both have a black spot. The wing underside has a mottled green pattern. Wingspan: 4-5cm.