Orange tipped white buterfly

aurora_bee · #1 (**permalink**) 03-05-2010, 10:40 PM

This is the first time I've spotted one of these. It was much smaller than I thought it would be.

aeshna5 · #2 (**permalink**) 04-05-2010, 04:29 AM

They are fairly small, but exquisite. Just known as Orange Tip, though only the male has the orange tips; black in the female, so more easily overlooked as one of the other whites without seeing the distinctive mossy green marbling on the under hindwing.

Seems to be a good spring for them; on Saturday when we had some good weather it was the most abundant butterfly while I was out.

aurora_bee · #3 (**permalink**) 04-05-2010, 04:06 PM

I was convinced the ones I saw in the same area were Small White butterflies last year, but having seen another post posing that question I'm convinced they were female Orange Tips.

aeshna5 · #4 (**permalink**) 04-05-2010, 04:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aurora_bee

I was convinced the ones I saw in the same area were Small White butterflies last year, but having seen another post posing that question I'm convinced they were female Orange Tips.

Quite possibly there were female Orange Tips, but I'd be surprised if there weren't Green-veined + possibly Small Whites too as both are very widespread; the former preferring damper situations + the latter more common near cultivation, but both regularly occur together, mobile + pretty common.

Have fun sorting them out!

aurora_bee · #5 (**permalink**) 04-05-2010, 10:00 PM

Without seeing them again I couldn't be sure. But having checked the book I remember they looked much more like the small white. With one defined black spot on the forewing which would make sense as it was into the summer.

JRsbugs · #6 (**permalink**) 04-05-2010, 10:08 PM

I get the Orange-tip every year just as my purple Lathyrus vernus is opening.

Until this year I hadn't seen a female, got the jackpot this year. Got some pics too. They also like to feed on white Aubretia.

Janet