Orange Tip - Anthocharis cardamines. Family Pieridae. This butterfly occurs throughout Europe with the exception of southern Spain, northern Scotland and northern Scandinavia and Finland. Its range extends eastwards across temperate Asia to China and Japan. The usual habitats are along hedgerows, in meadows and in woodland clearings, mainly in damp areas which have a rich flora. It may be found at altitudes above 2000 meters in the Alps. The caterpillar is pale bluish-green above and dark green below with a white band along each side. It feeds on the seedpods of garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata, hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale), lady's smock (Cardamine ratensis) and related plants. The full grown caterpillar leaves the foodplant to pupate amongst the herbage where it remains for up to eleven months before the butterfly emerges. Butterflies are on the wing for about two months between April and May according to locality.
Text: Butterflies and Moths in Britain and Europe
(1982) David Carter. Pan Books
