UK Butterflies

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Orange-tip

Anthocharis cardamines

an-thoh-KAR-iss kar-da-MY-neez

Wingspan
40 - 52 mm

Checklist Number
58.003

Orange-tip

Anthocharis cardamines

an-thoh-KAR-iss kar-da-MY-neez

Wingspan
40 - 52 mm

Checklist Number
58.003


The Orange-tip is a true sign of spring, being one of the first species to emerge that has not overwintered as an adult. The male and female of this species are very different in appearance. The more-conspicuous male has orange tips to the forewings, that give this butterfly its name. These orange tips are absent in the female and the female is often mistaken for one of the other whites, especially the Green-veined White or Small White. This butterfly is found throughout England, Wales and Ireland, but is somewhat-local further north and especially in Scotland. In most regions this butterfly does not form discrete colonies and wanders in every direction as it flies along hedgerows and woodland margins looking for a mate, nectar sources or foodplants. More northerly colonies are more compact and also more restricted in their movements.

The species was first defined in Linnaeus (1758) as shown here (type locality: Sweden). The nominate subspecies has not been recorded in Britain or Ireland.

This subspecies was first defined in Verity (1908) (type locality: England).

This subspecies is found throughout the British Isles, with the exception of Ireland and the Isle of Man. Williams (1916) disagrees with a particular aspect of the definition: "The extension of the black apical markings to the anal angle, however, is surely not so common in British specimens as to justify its use as a character differentiating British from continental specimens. I have only two specimens agreeing exactly with the description".

Anthocharis cardamines ssp. britannica (Verity, 1908)

Original (French)

Dans les îles Britanniques cardamines tend à prendre une forme assez particulière (fig.8) qui se distingue par la coupe assez allongée et étroite des antérieures, par le peu d'étendue de la tache aurore, surtout vers l'angle interne, et par l'étendue de la tache noire apicale, qui s'étend jusqu'à l'angle interne et dont le contour est très diffus. Quoiqu'on rencontre des individus semblables à ceux du continent cette race locale mérite le nom de britannica.

Translation

In the British Isles, cardamines tends to take a rather particular form (fig.8), distinguished by the somewhat long and narrow shape of the forewings, by the limited extent of the golden spot, especially towards the anal angle, and by the extent of the black apical spot, which reaches to the anal angle and is ill-defined. Although one finds individuals similar to those on the continent this local race merits the name Britannica.

This subspecies was first defined in Williams (1916).

This subspecies is common throughout Ireland. Chalmers-Hunt (1970) extends the distribution of this subspecies to the Isle of Man, acknowledging that "The earliest reference to cardamines as Manx is to be found in Newman (1870), most probably on Birchall's authority". This subspecies differs from the subspecies britannica as follows:

  • 1. It is slightly smaller although, according to Dennis (1977), Huggins (pers. comm.) contests this.
  • 2. The black markings on the upperside fringes are more strongly marked.
  • 3. The underside forewing of the male is frequently tinged yellow although this is also, according to Dennis (1977), contested by Huggins (pers. comm.) on the grounds that this feature is no less common in England.
  • 4. The upperside hindwing of the female is strongly tinged yellow. According to Ford (1945) "This condition is rare but not unknown in Britain" and Dennis (1977) states that "this character is only more or less common to the normal white form".

Anthocharis cardamines ssp. hibernica (Williams, 1916)

Slightly smaller on the average than the type, the black spots at the ends of the nervures more strongly marked. The ♂ frequently suffused with yellow on the underside of the forewing, the ♀ usually with the hindwing strongly suffused with yellow.

This form appears to occur throughout Ireland. It is figured in South (Butts. Brit. Isles, pl. 17).

 
Family:PieridaeSwainson, 1820
Subfamily:PierinaeDuponchel, 1835
Tribe:AnthochariniTutt, 1894
Genus:AnthocharisBoisduval, Rambur & Graslin, [1833]
Subgenus:  
Species:cardamines(Linnaeus, 1758)
Subspecies:britannica (Verity, 1908)
 hibernica (Williams, 1916)

Description to be completed.

The distribution data (2000-2009) has been made available through the generosity of Butterfly Conservation and any subspecies distribution is taken from Riley (2007). Click here to see the distribution of this species together with site information overlaid.

The species has a wide range of habitats which include country lanes, hedgerows, riverbanks, woodland margins and rides, and damp meadows. The species will also turn up in gardens.

This is one of the few butterflies whose population and distribution are both increasing and, as such, is not a species of conservation concern.

The table below shows the occurrence (distribution) and abundance (population) trends, using information from The State of the UK's Butterflies 2015 (Fox, 2015). Any UK BAP status is taken from the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).

UK BAP Status
Occurrence Change
1976-2014 (%)
Abundance Change
1976-2014 (%)
Occurrence Change
2005-2014 (%)
Abundance Change
2005-2014 (%)
Not Listed
Stable +8Increase +10Stable -4Large Increase +59

There is a single brood each year, with adults flying from the beginning of April, through May and into June. In exceptionally early years a small second brood may appear.

Anthocharis cardamines ssp. britannica

Anthocharis cardamines ssp. hibernica

Males are more-often noticed than females, largely due to the highly-visible orange splashes seen as the male butterfly flits along. It is believed that the orange tips of the male are an example of warning colouration, indicating that the butterfly is not particularly palatable to predators - a result of mustard oils that have accumulated in the body from the larval foodplant. The male is also the more-active of the two sexes as it searches out a mate and can be seen flying for long periods without ever stopping to rest or nectar. The female, on the other hand, is usually more concerned with egg-laying and, as a consequence, is often found in the vicinity of foodplants. Her more-secretive behaviour may also explain why she does not exhibit the warning colouration present in the male.

Both sexes have an amazing underside pattern of green blotches formed by a combination of yellow and black scales. When at rest on a flower head of the foodplant this butterfly so well camouflaged that an adult resting just a few feet away can easily be missed, even by an experienced observer.

When searching out suitable plants on which to lay, the female will initially locate a plant by sight before alighting on the plant and tasting it with her feet. If the plant is suitable, a single egg is laid on a flower stalk. Eggs are laid singly for good reason - the larvae are cannibalistic. As a result, it is uncommon to find more than one egg per plant and it is believed that the female is able to detect eggs that have already been laid.

Adults feed primarily on Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scripta), brambles (Rubus spp.), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), dandelions (Taraxacum spp.), Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata), Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), Ground-ivy (Glechoma hederacea), hawkweeds (Hieracium spp.), Ragged-Robin (Silene flos-cuculi), Red Campion (Silene dioica) and vetches (Vicia spp.).

Eggs are a greenish-white when first laid, but gradually turn orange and are one of the easiest eggs of all species to find, tucked away on a flower stalk of the foodplant.

Eggs are sometimes found on the same plants as those used by the Green-veined White. However, the two species are not in competition since the Green-veined White eats the leaves of the plant, whereas the Orange-tip primarily feeds on the developing seed pods. The larva emerges after 1 or 2 weeks.

"Eggs laid on May 28th, 1907, hatched on June 4th, remaining in the egg stage seven days. The egg is 1.21 mm. high, of an elongated pyriform shape, widest about the middle. The summit is slightly rounded and has a reticulated surface. There are about eighteen longitudinal keels; twelve of these run the entire length, the remaining six commence a little below the summit and run to the base; the intervening spaces have each about forty transverse ribs. When first laid the egg is a pale greenish-yellowish-white, which gradually deepens into yellow at the base and blends into orange at the middle, which colour extends to the summit; it afterwards becomes orange all over, and finally, before hatching, it changes to pale ochreous-brown. In some specimens the crown is transparent, caused by the embryo not reaching quite to the apex. The eggs are laid singly, standing erect, and are usually deposited on the base of the calyx or on the stalk quite close to it." - Frohawk (1924)


The larva eats its eggshell on hatching and, given its cannibalistic tendencies, will also eat any other Orange-tip eggs it encounters. The main source of food is developing seed pods, although the larva will also eat flowers and leaves on occasion. The caterpillar is superbly camouflaged in all instars, especially when resting lengthwise along a developing seed pod.

The larva will travel extensively in search of a suitable pupation site. There are 4 moults in total and the larval stage lasts between 3 and 4 weeks.

The primary larval foodplants are Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) and Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). Charlock (Sinapis arvensis), Dame's-violet (Hesperis matronalis), Hairy Rock-cress (Arabis hirsuta), Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale), Honesty (Lunaria annua), Large Bitter-cress (Cardamine amara), Turnip (Brassica rapa ssp. rapa) and Winter-cress (Barbarea vulgaris) are also used.

1st Instar

"By the time the egg hatches the young tender seed-pod is partly developed which forms the food of the little larva. But directly after leaving the egg the larva eats the empty egg-shell, and should it find an unhatched egg it immediately devours that also. After its first meal, consisting of the shell, it then crawls on to the seed-pod, on which it takes up its abode and feeds. During their earlier stages the larva: greedily devour each other. Directly after emergence the larva measures 1.5 mm. long and is cylindrical, the head large. The entire colouring is deep ochreous-yellow, densely sprinkled all over with minute black points, which gives a rough, dull, ochreous appearance to the skin; on the side of each segment are five olive-coloured warts forming longitudinal rows; three are situated in a triangle, one dorsal, one sub-dorsal and the third super-spiracular, the remaining two are sub-spiracular, placed side by side, forming a lateral row; all these warts bear fine straight shining black spines with cleft knobs, which excrete a tiny bead of white liquid that gives the spines the appearance of fine black pins with glass heads. The spines are of considerable length, excepting the anterior sub-spiracular one, which is short; this and the super-spiracular one are directed a little forward, the others project backwards; on the claspers are two simple spines pointing downwards; the legs and claspers are whitish clouded with dusky blotches; the head is similar to the body in its warts, spines and colouring." - Frohawk (1924)

2nd Instar

"A larva that hatched on May 18th, 1890, moulted first time on the evening of the 20th, remaining only about two and a half days in first stage. Fig. 4. Before first moult it measures 3.6 mm. long; it is uniformly cylindrical. The colour is rather more olive than when first hatched and has a pale lateral line. Before second moult it is 6.5 mm. long; the colour is a very pale greenish-grey, with a whitish lateral line, and the under surface is of an olive colour; the whole surface is minutely speckled with dusky-olive, in addition to the larger dark shining spine bearing warts; the head is dull olive, the legs and claspers are much the same as in the previous stage." - Frohawk (1924)

3rd Instar

"The second moult occurred midnight, May 23rd, being three days in the second stage. Before third moult it measures 10.5 mm. in length. The colour is shining grey-green, becoming whiter along the spiracular region, and finally shades into a white lateral stripe, bordered below by a smoky-black stripe, which blends into smoky-green on the under surface. The entire surface is sprinkled with black warts, varying in size, some being very minute; the most conspicuous are three on the side of each segment, placed in the form of a triangle, each emitting a fine black bristle; the tip of each exudes a tiny bead of white liquid, all the other minute warts also emit bristles. The head is similar to the body in colour and studded with warts and bristles; it is united to the body by a narrow black collar. The legs and claspers are black at the tips. During the moulting process it rests on a layer of silk spun on the stem of the plant. In each stage the larvae feed during both day and night, eating all parts of the plant when the seed-pods are consumed, and they grow rapidly." - Frohawk (1924)

4th Instar

"Third moult during the evening of May 26th, again occupying three days in the third stage. Before fourth moult it measures 17.5 mm. The dorsal surface is a clear green, shading into bluish along the side, and finally into a white lateral stripe, which is dilated and sharply defined below by the dark smoky-green of the under surface; just above the spiracles is an indication of a yellow longitudinal line; the spiracles are greyish-green. The warts and bristles are similar to the previous stage, but there is now a black wart on each segment situated on the lower edge of the white lateral stripe, excepting the first three, where they are placed in the middle of the stripe; on the anal segment the wart is absent. The ventral surface is also covered with minute warts. The head is greyish-green and furnished with numerous warts and bristles like the body. The legs are transparent grey-green with black extremities, and the claspers are clear green with very minute black warts, each having a most minute bristle. The entire surface is of glassy appearance." - Frohawk (1924)


5th Instar

"The fourth and last moult took place midday on June 2nd, 1890, the fourth stage occupying six and a half days. After the fourth moult and fully grown the larva measures about 31 mm. long; it is slender and of almost uniform thickness throughout. The head is the same width as the first segment, and the anal extremity is slightly attenuated; the segmental sub-divisions, numbering seven, are all uniform in width, forming a series of regular transverse wrinkles, which reach to the spiracular region and disappear on the dilated lateral ridge; the ventral surface is somewhat flattened. The colour of the dorsal surface is green, fading into glaucous-green of a decided blue tinge, which gradually fades into pure white on the lateral ridge, forming a conspicuous longitudinal white stripe; the whole of the ventral surface, including the legs and claspers, is of a rich and rather deep green; the spiracles are white. The whole surface is sprinkled with warts of various sizes, each emitting a bristle; all the warts and bristles are black, excepting some on the white stripe, which are likewise white, and others black; the longest dorsal bristles are cleft at the tips and bear minute beads of fluid. The largest warts are mostly situated in the centre of each sub-division, forming transverse rows of rather conspicuous black dots. The head is likewise sprinkled with similar warts and is of the same colour as the body. The larva rests in a straight position along the stem or seed-pod of its food plant. The larva ceased feeding on June 8th (having fed for six days since moulting), and after roaming about for thirty hours it spun up for pupation on the evening of June 9th; it then attached itself to the stem of the food plant by a silk cincture round the waist and a silken pad to which the anal claspers were firmly fixed, and then remained motionless until pupating, which took place midday June 11th, 1890, the last stage occupying nine days." - Frohawk (1924)


The pupa is formed upright on a plant stem or some other vertical surface that provides a suitable overwintering site, attached by a silk girdle and the cremaster. The pupa is green when first formed, with the majority eventually turning light brown to more-closely match its surroundings. This species overwinters in this stage.

"The pupa measures 23 mm. long; it is much elongated and attenuated at the ends and strongly concave dorsally, forming a crescentic figure, greatly resembling a seed-pod. Dorsal view: The head is much attenuated, forming a long beak; the pupa is widest at the shoulders, becoming thinner behind the thorax, and again slightly wider, and then running off in a gentle curve to the anal extremity. Side view: The beak and head similar to dorsal view. There is a slight keel, commencing on the side of the head, which runs along the inner margin of the wing and continues down the side of the abdomen. The under surface is very angular, it runs in almost a straight line from the point of the beak to the tips of the antenna; the costal margins of the wings almost meet along the edges, the tips quite meeting and rounded; the line from the tips of antennae to the anal extremity forms almost a right angle with the line from the beak to apex of the antenna. When six days old the colour is much the same as the fully grown larva. The back is pale greyish-green, with a darker green dorsal line, and darker green bordering the whitish dilated lateral stripe, which is whitest along the inner margin of the wing and middle of the body, becoming tinged with sienna-brown at the extremities; the anal point and cremastral hooks are burnt-sienna colour; the wings have the ground colour grey-green, the neuration greenish-white, and there are fine lines of the same colour between the nervures. There is a black dot at the end of the discoidal cell. The antennae are cord-like and whitish; the under surface is greenish-white speckled with brown; on the legs are two black dots. Directly after pupating it is green with white markings, and remains almost unchanged for about forty-eight hours; after then it gradually becomes buffish in hue. When thirty-four days old all the green markings are changed into olive or greenish-brown, mostly so on the wings, medio-dorsal and sub-dorsal lines; the rest of the dorsal surface is of a pinkish hue and speckled with reddish; the general appearance is pinkish-brown, with the lateral whitish stripe strongly pronounced, especially at the middle, and the ends are pinkish. Such is the description of the normal colouring of the pupa; the colouring varies in certain individuals, and some are wholly of a green colour. Green form of pupa. Entirely green, with a whitish lateral stripe running from beak along the margin of the wing down the abdomen to the extremity; on this stripe are placed the yellow spiracles, which are very minute and only visible under a lens; the whole structural formation is outlined with yellowish; the antennae are slightly whitish, the apex of the beak is ochreous. The normal coloured pupa above described remained in the pupal stage for 329 days. About fifty hours before emerging the pupa began to show signs of colour change, which very shortly after rapidly developed, the colouring of the imago showing plainly the day before emergence. The butterfly, a female, emerged at midday May 6th, 1891. The pupa is attached to a stem, or other vegetation, by the cremastral hooks to a pad of silk spun on the stem, and by a cincture round the middle. No part of the abdomen of the pupa is capable of movement; it remains rigidly fixed to its support, and in both its form and coloration it so closely resembles a seed-pod that it almost defies detection. In this state of apparent protective resemblance this species passes about eleven months of its existence ... Owing to the great resemblance of the pupa to a seed-pod of the food plant it is generally supposed that the latter is the object to which the pupa is attached, and so passes its ten or eleven months' existence in security afforded by its protective resemblance. However, apparently such is not the case in a state of nature, as a large proportion of the stems of the food plants are subject to destruction during the winter months, when the pupae would likewise perish. Therefore, in all probability it is but seldom that this species pupates on its food plant. Only one such instance is known to the author, i.e., a pupa of the green firm attached to a brown withered stem of garlic mustard was found by Mr. A. B. Farn in Kent in mid-winter." - Frohawk (1924)