Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines - Family: Pieridae
   Orange-tip - Anthocharis cardamines© Robin Chittenden www.harlequinpictures.co.ukOne of the first butterflies to be seen in spring, the orange-tip is reasonably common in gardens and also occurs in damp meadows, woodland rides, road verges, cultivated land and urban areas. The upperwings of the male and female are predominantly white. The male has bright orange tips on the forewing and the female has grey. Both have a clear black central spot on the forewing, and a mottled green and white underside. This helps to distinguish the female from other white butterflies. Orange bottle-shaped eggs are laid beneath the flower buds of food plants such as cuckooflower, otherwise known as lady's smock. The caterpillars are pale green and are camouflaged against the seed pods on which they feed. The orange tip has expanded northwards in the last 20 or 30 years but the loss of cuckooflowers in the south as a result of agricultural changes has not helped its status there. FoodCaterpillars: cruciferous plants, such as garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), dame's violet (Hesperis matronalis) and honesty (Lunaria biennis); adults: nectar. PlantsButterfly bush, Cow parsley, Cuckooflower, Dame's violet, Garlic mustard, Honesty, Ice plant | 
