Things With Wings
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Orange-tip
Anthocharis cardamines
1 photo
·1 photographer
·Common · 1 ptsMale has vivid orange wingtips; one of spring's first butterflies.
1 community photo of Orange-tip on Things With Wings. Top-rated shots often use around 1/320ss shutter, 300mm.
Species Profile
Green List (secure)
- Lifespan
- 4–6 weeks as an adult butterfly
- Size & Weight
- Wingspan 38–43 mm
- Habitat
- Open woodland edges, hedgerows, meadows, and gardens with abundant cuckooflower and garlic mustard plants.
- UK Distribution
- Found throughout England, Wales, and southern Scotland; a summer visitor that arrives in April and May, with populations peaking in late spring.
- Diet
- Adults feed on nectar from a variety of spring flowers including dandelion, cowslip, and fruit tree blossom.
- Predators
- Birds (particularly robins and warblers), spiders, and parasitic wasps of the caterpillar stage.
- Mating Season
- April to June
- Breeding
- Females lay single eggs on the leaves of host plants (primarily cuckooflower and garlic mustard); caterpillars take 3–4 weeks to develop, with typically one brood per year, occasionally a partial second brood.
- Behaviour
- Males patrol low vegetation in sunny spots, seeking females with rapid, fluttering flight. They are among the first butterflies to emerge in spring and are notably pugnacious, with males engaging in aerial contests. Adults are relatively short-lived but highly active during their emergence window.
Sources and editorial status
The short identification summary comes from the Things With Wings species catalogue. The extended species profile is AI-assisted and has not been individually reviewed by a wildlife expert, so verify important identification or conservation details with the specialist sources below.
Profile generated 22 June 2026
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Camera Settings (top photos)
Shutter
1/320ss
ISO Range
800
Aperture
f/f/11
Focal Length
300mm
