Orange Tip Butterfly
Anthocharia Cardamines
Members adopting this butterfly: Paul, Andrew
Orange Tip Butterfly
The Orange Tip is not endangered at the moment. Orange Tips are springtime butterflies. Males have orange wingtips. However, female Orange Tips are similar in appearance but they have grey wingtips. Both sexes have the same speckled green underside of their hind wings.
Some Orange Tips do change colour during the winter period but some remain the same.
When you might see them
You can find Orange Tips during springtime. You may find a male wandering around the countryside, as it will be searching for a mate. Female Orange Tips are elusive, as they like to hide among the bushes for several hours of the day.
Food
Orange tips feed on Cuckooflower and Garlic Mustard but they also feed on Charlock, Hedge Mustard, Hairy Rock-cress, Large Bitter-cress, Winter cress and Turnip.
Where – Habitat
Orange tips are mostly found in the countryside near hedgerows or small woodland areas.
Orange Tip Eggs
An Orange Tip egg is bottled shaped and is long and thin. It is laid singly on flower stalks of various plants.
When
An Orange Tip egg is laid on cuckooflower or garlic mustard. They are laid during the months of May or June. The egg appears to be greenish-white at first but becomes orange gradually.
Orange Tip Caterpillar
The caterpillar can grow 31mm long. They have a greenish grey colour on the back and fading to white on the flanks.
When
The egg will hatch into a caterpillar after a week to a fortnight. This will happen between May and July. The caterpillar will then burrow into the flower.
Food
An Orange Tip caterpillar will feed on seedpods of Lady’s Smock and Garlic Mustard.
Where
You will find an Orange Tip caterpillar on grassy, meadow areas, near hedges and ditch banks.
Orange Tip Chrysalis
An Orange Tip’s chrysalis is initially green but can change to olive brown after a month.
When
An Orange Tip caterpillar will become a chrysalis during July. However, they can be killed by mammals or birds.
Where
You will find an Orange Tip’s chrysalis on the stem of their food plants. An Orange tip chrysalis can be brown or green. The brown forms are common.
Books used to find information
Britain’s Butterflies
A field guide to the butterflies of Britain and Ireland.
Written by David Newland, Robert Still, David Tomlinson and Andy Swash
The Butterflies of Britain and Ireland
Written by Jeremy Thomas and Richard Lewington
Guide to the butterflies of Britain
Written by John Bebbington
Usborne Spotter’s Guides – Butterflies
Written by George E. Hyde
BBC Gardeners World Magazine
Issue July 2011
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