The Orange-Tip Butterfly: A Delicate Beauty of Early Spring
The Orange Tip butterfly has always been one of my favorite springtime sights. The males, with their splendid bright orange-tipped wings, are a vibrant display of color, while the elusive females, who blend seamlessly into the undergrowth within seconds of landing, make them both fascinating and frustrating creatures to find, let alone photograph.
A fine male Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) resting on grass seed head.
The Orange-tip butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines) is a distinctive and widespread species in the UK. It has been one of my personal favorites amounts the British butterfly populations. easily recognized by the vibrant orange tips on the forewings of males, which contrast with their white wings. Females lack the orange markings, making them resemble other white butterflies. Both sexes feature an intricate green-and-white mottled pattern on the undersides of their hindwings, providing excellent camouflage when resting.
Feeding Habits and Habitat
Orange-tip butterflies feed primarily on nectar, frequenting wildflower-rich areas. Their preferred feeding sites include:
Woodland edges: They are often found along the sunny margins of woodlands where flowers like garlic mustard thrive.
Hedgerows: These provide a corridor of wild plants rich in nectar.
Meadows and grasslands: Particularly those with damp conditions, where their larval food plants grow.
Road verges and gardens: Especially where suitable wildflowers such as cuckoo flower (lady’s smock) and garlic mustard are present.
Adults are active during their flight period from April to June, and during this time, they feed on a variety of nectar sources including bluebells, dandelions, and cuckoo flowers.
Another male, and sadly, I still don’t have any images of the females. For over 20 years, I’ve been trying to capture both male and female Orange Tips breeding. The search continues, but with only a handful of weeks in the spring, the window is short. Notice how this male’s camouflage blends beautifully with the cow parsley.
Breeding and Egg-Laying
Orange-tip butterflies have a specific preference for cruciferous plants (plants in the mustard family) for breeding. The female lays her eggs singly on the flower stalks of suitable host plants to reduce competition among caterpillars. Key host plants in the UK include:
Garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata): Common along hedgerows and woodland edges.
Cuckoo flower (Cardamine pratensis): Found in damp meadows, roadside ditches, and riverbanks.
Hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale): Often growing in disturbed or weedy areas.
Charlock (Sinapis arvensis): Found in arable fields and waste ground.
Male feeding from a cuckoo flower, these flowers are found in damp grassy areas,
The eggs, which are initially white, turn orange after a few days. Caterpillars hatch in about a week and feed on the seed pods of the host plants, avoiding the leaves. Once fully grown, they form a chrysalis (pupa) in a sheltered location such as a stem or twig, where they overwinter before emerging as adult butterflies the following spring.
Preferred Environment
Orange-tips thrive in areas where their host plants and nectar sources overlap. Ideal habitats include:
Damp meadows and floodplains: Rich in cuckoo flower and other wildflowers.
Woodland clearings and rides: Offering both food plants and sunny conditions for flight.
Suburban gardens: Especially those with wildflower patches or unkempt areas.
Riversides and canal banks: Providing damp conditions for cuckoo flower.
Bluebell woodlands are a must see spring event. The colour display in these woodlands is amazing and shows the health of the woodland, there you will find all kinds of creatures at a macro level, including the Orange Tip.
The Passing of Time
I’ve been observing their flight and habitat for some 40 years, and the decline has been rather shocking, with many years passing without a single sighting. They were once a common sight, but these days, seeing even a handful is a rare and bittersweet event. The Orange-tip butterfly remains a cherished harbinger of spring—but for how much longer?
Get involved!
Humans have destroyed countless habitats and driven thousands of species to extinction—does that make you feel proud? Through greed and a desire for control, the all-powerful human forgets one crucial truth: without nature, we wouldn’t exist. Nature sustains us.
Do you enjoy fruits, jams, and beautiful flowers? It’s the insects that make them possible. You can help by creating a small nature-friendly garden. A simple pond, some wildflowers, or even just a patch of untamed greenery can invite incredible wildlife to thrive.
You can make a difference. I, for one, do not want to live in a world without nature!
I want to hear from you?
Comment below and share what has changed since you were a child. From the creatures you used to see, to the trees, hedgerows, and meadows that have slowly disappeared—what differences have you noticed? And what would you like to see done to bring nature back?
Click on the button to view the Orange Tip butterfly gallery
