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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. 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.
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.
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
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.
The primary 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.
Adults feed primarily on 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.).
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
Subspecies: hibernica
Description to be completed
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.
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 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.
Bath WhiteDescription to be completed Green-veined WhiteDescription to be completed
Click here to see the distribution of this species overlaid with specific site information. Alternatively, select one of the sites listed below.
This is one of the few butterflies whose population and distribution are both increasing and, as such, is not a species of conservation concern.
From The State of Butterflies in Britain and Ireland and the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) (2007 review).
The following links provide additional information on this butterfly.
The species description provided here has been derived from the author's own observations and the information contained in the following works:
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![Orange-Tip - ssp hibernica - Ballinasloe, Co. Galway - Apr-08 [Graham Smith]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/81db1a3c3bcb21123c63470986e82e7e.jpg "Orange-Tip - ssp hibernica - Ballinasloe, Co. Galway - Apr-08 [Graham Smith]")
![Orange-Tip - ssp hibernica - Ballinasloe, Co. Galway - Apr-08(2) [Graham Smith]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/07e0af21bb6b400a278fdbe8b99c3f52.jpg "Orange-Tip - ssp hibernica - Ballinasloe, Co. Galway - Apr-08(2) [Graham Smith]")
![Orange-Tip - aberration - Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve, Chelmsford, Essex - 12-May-09 (2) [Paul Forsdick]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/6044e31764b477dbcea89f8ac146e320.jpg "Orange-Tip - aberration - Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve, Chelmsford, Essex - 12-May-09 (2) [Paul Forsdick]")
![Orange-Tip - aberration - Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve, Chelmsford, Essex - 12-May-09 [Paul Forsdick]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/c88e93162b3d40edfd066528f3a30e8d.jpg "Orange-Tip - aberration - Chelmer Valley Nature Reserve, Chelmsford, Essex - 12-May-09 [Paul Forsdick]")
![Orange-Tip - aberration - Ickenham - 14-May-09 [Sezar Hikmet]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/fbf8fd2ae6746b25913a4711342d3bcd.jpg "Orange-Tip - aberration - Ickenham - 14-May-09 [Sezar Hikmet]")
![Orange-Tip - ovum - Thatcham - 02-May-04 (2) [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/fc65987bc2595b1ab8fe84a85aed19c7.jpg "Orange-Tip - ovum - Thatcham - 02-May-04 (2) [REARED]")
![Orange-Tip - ovum - Forton, Somerset - 14-May-06 [Adrian Dexter]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/fce72be33070f71bb63f47d8bf784298.jpg "Orange-Tip - ovum - Forton, Somerset - 14-May-06 [Adrian Dexter]")
![Orange-Tip - larva - Thatcham - 20-May-04 [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/9e4321878fa5ab202799c4a2fc4bd229.jpg "Orange-Tip - larva - Thatcham - 20-May-04 [REARED]")
![Orange-Tip - larva - Thatcham - 29-May-04 [REARED]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/870c9f39ae654ab9b904864d95085c1c.jpg "Orange-Tip - larva - Thatcham - 29-May-04 [REARED]")
![Orange-Tip - pupa - Unknown location - 14-Jun-05 [REARED] [Matt Berry]](phpBB/gallery/images/upload/2c59bae6573ced7f39016c7f5bb75a21.jpg "Orange-Tip - pupa - Unknown location - 14-Jun-05 [REARED] [Matt Berry]")
