Anthocharis

Boisduval, Rambur, Duméril & Graslin, 1833

orangetips, orange tips

Species Guides

6

Anthocharis is a Holarctic of pierid butterflies comprising approximately 20 , commonly known as orangetips. These small butterflies are characterized by white to pale yellow wings with distinctive orange, red, or yellow markings on the forewings in males. The genus occurs across temperate regions of North America, Europe, and Asia, with species typically restricted to specific geographic areas rather than having broad distributions. All species are , with active primarily in spring.

Anthocharis thoosa by no rights reserved, uploaded by Robbie Hannawacker. Used under a CC0 license.Anthocharis lanceolata by (c) John Hibbard, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by John Hibbard. Used under a CC-BY license.Anthocharis thoosa by no rights reserved, uploaded by Robbie Hannawacker. Used under a CC0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Anthocharis: /ˌænθoʊˈkærɪs/

These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.

Identification

Males distinguished by orange, red, or yellow coloration at forewing apices; females generally lack these bright markings and appear white or pale yellow. Forewing with two of five subcostal branching before apex; upper radial vein only weakly united with subcostal; central discocellular vein relatively long. Hindwing underside often with greenish or grayish marbling in some . Species identification requires examination of wing pattern details, genitalia, or larval characteristics.

Images

Habitat

Open including meadows, woodland edges, hedgerows, riparian areas, and grasslands. Many associated with specific plant where larval plants occur.

Distribution

Holarctic distribution spanning temperate North America, Europe, and Asia. North American concentrated in western and southwestern regions; Palearctic species primarily in southern Europe and Mediterranean region with one species extending northward. No species occur in tropical regions.

Seasonality

; emerge and are active in spring, typically April through May in temperate regions. Single per year with pupal stage.

Diet

Larvae are on Brassicaceae (cruciferous plants), feeding on flowers, young leaves, and developing seed pods. feed on nectar from diverse flowering plants including plants and other early spring bloomers.

Life Cycle

Complete with cycle. laid singly on plant flower buds or stems. Larvae develop through five instars, feeding on Brassicaceae tissues. occurs near host plant base or on adjacent vegetation; overwinters as chrysalis. emerge following spring warming.

Behavior

Males of many exhibit , flying to elevated terrain features to locate females. Males patrol linear territories along hedgerows, woodland edges, or ridgelines. Some species defend specific perches; others engage in with rapid vertical aerial pursuits. Females search visually for plants, preferentially ovipositing on taller, more conspicuous plants with sparse surrounding vegetation.

Ecological Role

of early spring flowers; herbivore regulating Brassicaceae through larval feeding. Some subject to population impacts from plants acting as ecological traps.

Similar Taxa

  • EuchloeBoth are small white pierids with marbled hindwing undersides; Euchloe (marbles) lack orange forewing tips and typically show more extensive greenish marbling on hindwing underside, with different wing venation patterns.
  • PierisPieris (whites and cabbage whites) are similar in size and general coloration but lack orange markings, have more rounded wing shapes, and different larval plant associations.

Sources and further reading