Orange Tip Anthocharis cardamines

The orange tip can be found across Europe and as far east as Japan. It is one of the few butterflies to be extending its range northwards within the UK whilst remaining very common throughout its traditional southern range.

Conservation status in Norfolk

Threats to the continued wellbeing of the species come in the form of habitat loss, particularly the drainage of wet areas and destruction of hedgerows which results in a decline in abundance of its food plants

Click to see the Biodiversity Action Plan Species for this species

How to help

To encourage the orange tip into your garden grow plants like honesty, sweet rocket and cresses. If you have space, create a damp area and plant lady’s smock. If you have a hedgerow in your garden or close-by and under your control try to encourage a healthy growth of wildflowers including garlic mustard.

Adopt me today and help ensure my future!

Barry Madden

Information on the Orange Tip

How to recognise

The male orange tip is an unmistakable butterfly. It is the only species in the UK to sport bright orange tips to its white wings. The female orange tip is not so easy to identify and closely resembles the other common white butterfly species. It can best be separated when at rest by its green-mottled underside. The butterfly has a wingspan of approximately 45 to 50mm.

Where to see

The orange tip is widely distributed throughout the UK although it is absent from large areas of Scotland. In Norfolk it can be commonly encountered along roadside verges, in woodland glades and in damp meadows where it actively seeks its favoured food plants lady’s smock (cuckoo-flower) and garlic mustard (jack-by-the-hedge). The butterfly also visits established gardens and here it will use a variety of plants for feeding, most notably honesty. Norfolk Wildlife Trust have a number of reserves which are particularly good for viewing butterflies. Visit NWT Narborough Railway Line during spring and summer to see an array of different butterflies.

When to see

This is an early spring butterfly with first emerging insects on the wing from mid-April. Adults can be encountered until mid-July. Egg-laying is normally completed by the end of June and caterpillars can be found throughout June and July. The butterfly hibernates over-winter as a chrysalis above ground, attached low down in dense vegetation

Did you know?

The young caterpillars are cannibals and due to fierce competition for food will usually eat any other larva it encounters. Because of this usually only one survives per flowerhead. Newly hatched larvae will also eat unhatched eggs for the same reason.

Finding out more

Norfolk & Norwich Naturalists Society

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