Orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) in Alblasserwaard by Jacob Molenaar

About "Orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) in Alblasserwaard"

by Jacob Molenaar

About the artwork

The orange tip, scientifically known as Anthocharis cardamines, is a conspicuous butterfly species belonging to the family Pieridae, the whites. This butterfly is native to Europe, including parts of Asia and North Africa, and is mainly found in temperate climate zones.

What distinguishes the orange tip orange butterfly is the distinctive orange wing tips in males, while females usually have a more marked green pattern. The underside of the wings is often marked green, providing excellent camouflage when the butterfly sits on leaves or flowers.

The orangetip's life cycle begins with the eggs being laid by females on the buds of various cruciferous plants, such as cinqueflowers and garlic-willow. After a few weeks, the eggs hatch and the caterpillars appear, feeding on the leaves of their host plants.

As the caterpillars grow, they undergo several molts before finally pupating. The pupae can be greenish or brown in colour, making them well camouflaged against predators and other threats.

Once the pupae are fully developed, the adult butterflies emerge. The orange tip is one of the first butterflies to appear in spring, usually in March or April, depending on the location. They are often attracted to flowering plants and live off nectar as a food source.

The orange tip plays an important role in the ecosystem as a pollinator of various flowers and a food source for predators such as birds and spiders.