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Species account
Orange Tip
(Anthocharis cardamines)
Linnaeus (1758)
Whites and Yellows (Pieridae)
ORTI
24843
Aurora (dk)
Aurora Blanca (es)
Aurorafjäril (se)
Synonyms: Eng-Våralf (dk) Springklappens Dagspringer (dk)
Subspecies
cardamines
alexandra
Hemming (1933) – Found in the mountain ridges of Northern Tian-Shan at elevations of 1200–2700 m. Flight period is April–July.
isshikii
[author ?] - Distinct spot found both in pupae and adults and found in Japan.
meridionalis
Verity (1908)
phoenissa
Kalchberg (1805).
Measurements:
WS: 44-51mm
Generations:
1
Flight period:
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| SE | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Identification:
Male unmistakable in the Nordic region with an orange patch covering the distal half of the upper forewing followed by a blackish tip bordered by a pearl-like white margin.
The female shows the same black tip to the forewing as the male including the pearl-border but lacks the orange patch. Instead it has a well-defined small black spot on the forewing toward the front edge without reaching this.
Both sexes show black 'paint-spray' on the upper wingbase and the body.
The underside of both sexes show a cryptic dusty-green and white pattern which in the region can only be confused with Grønbroget Kålsommerfugl (Pontia edusa) [Eastern Bath White ~ Grönfläckig Vitfjäril] but the greenish pattern is more 'exploded/splashed out' than on the latter species. Also, the latter shows a bigger and more edgy black spot on the forewing reaching toward the front edge.
The wings are more rounded than seen on comparable whites.
The female shows the same black tip to the forewing as the male including the pearl-border but lacks the orange patch. Instead it has a well-defined small black spot on the forewing toward the front edge without reaching this.
Both sexes show black 'paint-spray' on the upper wingbase and the body.
The underside of both sexes show a cryptic dusty-green and white pattern which in the region can only be confused with Grønbroget Kålsommerfugl (Pontia edusa) [Eastern Bath White ~ Grönfläckig Vitfjäril] but the greenish pattern is more 'exploded/splashed out' than on the latter species. Also, the latter shows a bigger and more edgy black spot on the forewing reaching toward the front edge.
The wings are more rounded than seen on comparable whites.
Similar species:
Life stages:
Distribution:
Europe, Middle East through temperate Asia to Japan.
Habitat:
Flower rich meadows, deciduous forest edges and clearings, gardens and parks.
Behavior:
Females are seen less frequently because they don't fly about as much as the male.
Status:
Common in Denmark and most of the Scandinavian region.
Host plants:
Korsblomster (Brassicaceae) [Crucifers ~ Brasicáceas ~ Korsblommiga växter]
especially:
Engkarse (Cardamine pratensis) [Mayflower ~ Agrión de Prado ~ Ängsbräsma]
Løgkarse (Alliaria petiolata) [Garlic Mustard ~ Hierba de Ajo ~ Löktrav]
also:
Almindelig Pengeurt (Thlaspi arvense) [Field Pennycress ~ Carraspique ~ Penningört]
Vellugtende Aftenstjerne (Hesperis matronalis) [Damask-Violet ~Juliana ~ Hesperis]
Ager-Sennep (Sinapis arvensis) [Charlock Mustard ~ Mostaza de Campo ~ Åkersenarp]
Gåsemad (Arabidopsis thaliana) [Thale Cress ~ Backtrav]
Hyrdetaske (Capsella bursa-pastoris) [Shepherd's purse ~ Lomme]
In gardens:
Rucula (Eruca vesicaria) [Arugula ~ Senarpskål]
Judaspenge (Lunaria annua) [Honesty ~ Monedas del Papa ~ Judaspenningar]
...
especially:
Engkarse (Cardamine pratensis) [Mayflower ~ Agrión de Prado ~ Ängsbräsma]
Løgkarse (Alliaria petiolata) [Garlic Mustard ~ Hierba de Ajo ~ Löktrav]
also:
Almindelig Pengeurt (Thlaspi arvense) [Field Pennycress ~ Carraspique ~ Penningört]
Vellugtende Aftenstjerne (Hesperis matronalis) [Damask-Violet ~Juliana ~ Hesperis]
Ager-Sennep (Sinapis arvensis) [Charlock Mustard ~ Mostaza de Campo ~ Åkersenarp]
Gåsemad (Arabidopsis thaliana) [Thale Cress ~ Backtrav]
Hyrdetaske (Capsella bursa-pastoris) [Shepherd's purse ~ Lomme]
In gardens:
Rucula (Eruca vesicaria) [Arugula ~ Senarpskål]
Judaspenge (Lunaria annua) [Honesty ~ Monedas del Papa ~ Judaspenningar]
...
Feeding plants:
Korsblomster (Brassicaceae) [Crucifers ~ Brasicáceas ~ Korsblommiga växter]
Comment:
Subspecies added from wiki, but none apparently relevant to Nordic region nor Europe.
