Orange-tip - Keele University
Small Skipper

Keele University Arboretum

Orange-tip Anthocaris cardamines

The male is distinctive with its orange wing tip, however, the female could be taken for a Green-veined White at first but, unlike that species, the upperside of the wing is mottled with grey-black.

orange-tip male orange-tip female
Male Female
orange-tip female us  orange-tip egg
Female underside  Egg

The larvae feed principally on Lady's Smock Cardamine pratensis. This is a plant of damp meadows and pool margins so this is one place to look for the butterfly.

Hedgerows are another as the larvae also feed on Jack-by-the Hedge Alliaria petiolata. Adults are on the wing from late April to June.

The underside of the wing is quite different from that of other white butterflies.

Though small, the orange eggs are surprisingly easy to spot. There are two on the above photo. The female rarely lays more than 1-3 per plant - insurance against the larvae running out of food!

The Species