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Anthocharis cardamines, Orange Tip, (Linnaeus, 1758) Wingspan male 45mm female 50mm.
The female has black wing tips compared to the males orange coloured tips of the forewings, which gives this species its name.
Flight season: Early April to September.
Widespread and common throughout the British Isles.
Habitat: Mainly close to its caterpillar’s food source being, flowers and seedpods of tall Crucifers. Also found near its favoured plants, being: Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Lady’s smock (Cardamine pratensis). Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) As these plants prefer different soil conditions, so the Orange Tips (Anthocharis cardamines) are supported in a wide variety of habitats: Hedgerows, woodland rides, wood edges, wastelands, gardens, river banks, ditches and damp meadows.
Spring arrives with the Orange tip on the wing, this is one of the first species of butterflies to appear that do not overwinter as adults. Eggs are bottled shaped and easy to find in late May and June. The young thin caterpillars are shaped long and tubular, coloured pale orange with black hairs,. When mature the colour becomes blue-green on top and a dark green underbelly, with inconspicuous hairs. Chrysalis forms into an elegant triangular shape, normally pale brown but sometimes a clear green colour.
Read MoreThe female has black wing tips compared to the males orange coloured tips of the forewings, which gives this species its name.
Flight season: Early April to September.
Widespread and common throughout the British Isles.
Habitat: Mainly close to its caterpillar’s food source being, flowers and seedpods of tall Crucifers. Also found near its favoured plants, being: Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Lady’s smock (Cardamine pratensis). Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) As these plants prefer different soil conditions, so the Orange Tips (Anthocharis cardamines) are supported in a wide variety of habitats: Hedgerows, woodland rides, wood edges, wastelands, gardens, river banks, ditches and damp meadows.
Spring arrives with the Orange tip on the wing, this is one of the first species of butterflies to appear that do not overwinter as adults. Eggs are bottled shaped and easy to find in late May and June. The young thin caterpillars are shaped long and tubular, coloured pale orange with black hairs,. When mature the colour becomes blue-green on top and a dark green underbelly, with inconspicuous hairs. Chrysalis forms into an elegant triangular shape, normally pale brown but sometimes a clear green colour.
