SCIENTIFIC NAME: ANTHOCHARIS CARDAMINES
VERNACULAR NAME: ORANGE TIP

Fig 1
ADULT Wingspan - 40 - 52mm.  The males forewings white upper surface and extensive orange tips are immediately diagnostic.  The tip to the forewing is darker and a small dark mark is found just inside the orange patch.  The females have no orange area with a black patch at the apex and a more rounded edge to the wings apex.  The undersides of the hindwings of both sexes are a mottled green and white with the forewings undersides as above but pale greenish grey towards the tip. 
CHRYSALIS 23mm.  Can be either brown or green and located in dense undergrowth.
LARVA 31mm.  Greyish green to frosted white, darker green below.  Located on a variety of crucifers preferably cuckooflower and garlic mustard.
EGG Orange, bottle-shaped located on crucifers such as cuckooflower, garlic mustard and charlock.  Hatching time within 7 days.
BEHAVIOUR A busy little character that is always on the go sometimes just back and forth over the same area.  Fortunately they are only active when the sun shines so with a little luck specimens can be located and observed more closely.  
HABITAT Damp meadows, woodland edges, hedgerows, grassy verges.
FLIGHT PERIOD May - June.

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