Orange-tip Butterfly
Scientific name: Inachis io
The Orange-tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines)
The Orange-tip is a common butterfly which flies between April and July in farmland, gardens and parks. The males have white wings with distinctive orange tips with grey edges and a small black dot, whereas the female has plain white wings with grey-black outer edges similar to White butterflies, and the same small black spot as the male. Both have a mottled grey-green pattern on the undersides of the hindwings.
The spindle-shaped egga are layed singly on the undersides of flower buds on the foodplant - they go a dorange colour after a few days. Foodplants are Hedge Mustard, Garlic Mustard, Lady's Smock, Dane's Violet and Honesty. The caterpillars feed on the developing seed pods
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