Orange-tip

Anthocharis cardamines phoenissa

A medium-sized white butterfly with a wingspan of 31-50 mm, males have orange patches in their forewings. There could be several forms of this species in Lebanon. The orange-tip lives in nearly all types of habitats, such as coastal dunes, fruit groves, hedges, riversides, marshes, forests, damp meadows, wet grassland, and mountain pastures; males prefer forest margins while females frequent open meadows and dry hillsides. Host plants include a number of plants in the mustard family, such as turnip (Brassica rapa), shepherd’s-purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), woad (Isatis tinctoria), watercress (Nasturtium officinale), field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), and rockets (Sisymbrium spp.). This butterfly flies March through June, the flight is fast and rapid.

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