ORANGE TIP |
ANTHOCHARIS CARDAMINES |
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| 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. |