(Photo by: Steve Scott)
This delicate-looking little butterfly is the Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea) and they are found throughout the Eastern United States in open wet woodlands, near waterways, open swampy areas, and sometimes near dry wooded areas and ridge tops. They are in the family Pieridae with sulphurs and whites.This butterfly is often considered the harbinger of spring because they are one of the first butterflies to be seen early in the spring. They typically fly low to the ground in their woodland habitats.This butterfly was first described in 1809 by Jacob Hubner. They are found only in North America and are most common in Texas and Oklahoma. This butterfly was first described in 1809 by Jacob Hubner. They are found only in North America and are most common in Texas and Oklahoma.
Orangetips are easy to identify with their distinctive orange tips (males) on their all white wings; females lack the orange tips (typically). They are small with a wingspan up to 1 3/4 inches. The underside of their wings is heavily marbled with a greenish tint.
Males will patrol for receptive females, and once mated the female will lay her eggs singly on the leaves of plants in the mustard family. These include winter cress, and rock cress. Females, like many butterfly species have the ability to detect if other eggs are present on a particular plant, and she will lay her eggs elsewhere. The caterpillars feed mostly at night on the seed pods, flower buds and flowers of the host plants.
(Photo by: Dave Wagner--taken from Discover Life website)
The adults of this species nectar at a wide variety of flowers and tend to be very easy to approach and will tolerate humans more so than most butterflies. A good friend of mine wrote this verse about Falcate Orangetips and I thought I would share it with you.
The caterpillars stay out of sight
Feeding at night aids obscurity
Adults look for mates while the time is right.
Neither gets social security.
By: Richard Lewin
Each year I am on the lookout for this species and I have yet to find it.
Maybe this will be my year!