UK Butterflies - Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines

Wingspan
40 - 52mm

Orange-tip

Anthocharis cardamines

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

Linnaeus, 1758

Ref: 1553

Superfamily:	Papilionoidea
Family:	Pieridae
Subfamily:	Pierinae
Genus:	Anthocharis
Subgenus:
Species:	cardamines
Subspecies:	britannica (Verity, 1908)
	hibernica (Williams, 1916)

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Introduction
Distribution
Annual Cycle
Habitat
Larval Foodplants
Nectar Sources

Imago
Ovum
Larva
Pupa
Similar Species
Videos

Sites
Conservation Status
Links
References


Male	Male Underside	Female	Female Underside

	Introduction

The Orange-tip is a true sign of spring, being one of the first species seen 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.

Subspecies: britannica

This subspecies is found throughout the British Isles, with the exception of Ireland.

Subspecies: hibernica

This subspecies represents the population found in Ireland. It differs from the britannica subspecies by being slightly smaller, and with minor colour differences.

	Distribution

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.

	Annual Cycle

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.

Subspecies: britannica

Subspecies: hibernica

	Habitat

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.

	Larval Foodplants

The main larval foodplants are Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis) and Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata). Charlock (Sinapis arvensis), Hairy Rock-cress (Arabis hirsuta), Hedge Mustard (Sisymbrium officinale), Large Bitter-cress (Cardamine amara), Turnip (Brassica rapa) and Winter-cress (Barbarea vulgaris) are also used.

	Nectar Sources

The main nectar sources are Bluebell (Hyacinthoides non-scriptus), Bramble (Rubus fruticosus agg.), Bugle (Ajuga reptans), Cuckooflower (Cardamines pratensis), Dandelion (Taraxacum agg.), Greater Stitchwort (Stellaria holostea), Hawkweeds (Hieracium/Hypochoeris), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi), Red Campion (Silene dioica) and Vetches (Vicia spp.).

	Imago

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.

Subspecies: britannica


Photo © Vince Massimo 09-May-2006	Photo © Vince Massimo 17-Apr-2007	Photo © Vince Massimo 29-Apr-2006	Photo © Pete Eeles 18-Apr-2007	Photo © Pete Eeles 01-May-2006

Photo © Pete Eeles 14-Apr-2007	Photo © Pete Eeles 14-Apr-2009	Photo © Pete Eeles 14-Apr-2009	Photo © Pete Eeles 14-Apr-2009	Photo © Pete Eeles 17-Apr-2007

Photo © Pete Eeles 29-Apr-2006	Photo © Pete Eeles 04-May-2008	Photo © Pete Eeles 24-Apr-2005	Orange tip taken at Denham Quarry 08 04 2009 Sezar Hikmet Photo © sahikmet	Photo © sahikmet

Photo © Sussex Kipper 13-Apr-2009	Photo © Gruditch 25-Apr-2008

Subspecies: hibernica


Orange-Tip - Female Upperside - 09/05/2007, Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland Photo © Dave McCormick	Orange-Tip - Female Underside - 09/05/2007, Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland Photo © Dave McCormick	Photo © Graham Smith	Photo © Graham Smith

	Aberrations

Description to be completed


This photo is an accurate representation of the colour of this individual. It has not been over exposed nor has the individual suffered significant wear, so I must conclude that it is an aberration. Photo © Vince Massimo 28-Apr-2008	Photo © Paul Forsdick	Photo © Paul Forsdick	Photo © Sezar Hikmet 14-May-2009

	Ovum

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.


Orange-Tip - Egg Hatching, 03/05/2007, Mountstewart, Co Down, Northern Ireland Photo © Dave McCormick	Photo © Pete Eeles 02-May-2004	Photo © Pete Eeles 21-Apr-2007	Photo © Adrian Dexter

	Larva

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.


Photo © Pete Eeles 02-Jun-2007	Photo © Pete Eeles 02-Jun-2007	Photo © Pete Eeles 11-May-2004	Photo © Pete Eeles 19-May-2004	Photo © Pete Eeles 28-May-2004

	Pupa

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.


Photo © Pete Eeles 27-Jun-2007	Photo © Pete Eeles 27-Jun-2007	Photo © Matt Berry

	Similar Species

Bath White

Description to be completed

Green-veined White

Description to be completed

	Videos

Videos can be played back using either RealPlayer or Windows Media Player. Click here to obtain a free RealPlayer or free Windows Media Player.

	Sites

Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.

Rating	Sites
	Attenborough Nature Reserve, Glenarm, Midgham Lakes
	Bentley Wood, Latterbarrow, Moors Valley Country Park, Roudsea Wood NNR
	Fleam Dyke, Llanymynech Rocks, Meanwood Park, Pamber Forest

	Mill Hill
Not rated

	Conservation Status

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

UK BAP Status	Distribution Trend	Population Trend
Not Listed

From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).

	Links

The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.

	References

The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:

A Natural History of British Butterflies, by F.W.Frohawk.
British and Irish Butterflies, by Adrian M. Riley
South's British Butterflies, by T.G.Howarth (which is based extensively on the classic work, "The Butterflies of the British Isles", by Richard South).
The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland, by Jeremy Thomas and Richard Lewington.
The Millennium Atlas of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, by Jim Asher, Martin Warren, Richard Fox, Paul Harding, Gail Jeffcoate, Stephen Jeffcoate.
The Moths and Butterflies of Great Britain and Ireland Volume 7 (1) Hesperiidae to Nymphalidae (the Butterflies), by A. Maitland Emmet and John Heath (editors).
The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland, Richard Fox, Jim Asher, Tom Brereton, David Roy and Martin Warren.