Orange-tip
Anthocharis cardamines
Tap image to enlarge · Wikimedia Commons
Overview
The Orange-tip is one of the loveliest spring butterflies and one of the early signs that the Sefton Coast season is underway. Males are unmistakeable — white with vivid orange wingtips. Females lack the orange and can be mistaken for other white butterflies but the green-marbled underside is distinctive. They were scarce north of the Mersey before the mid-1980s but colonised the Sefton Coast and are now well established. Look in damp areas where Cuckoo Flower (their larval foodplant) grows in the dune slacks.
At a Glance
| Order | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Pieridae |
| Habitat | Damp dune slack edge · Woodland edge · Hedgerow · Rough grassland |
| Diet | Adults: flowers including Cuckoo Flower and Garlic Mustard. Larvae: Cuckoo Flower and Garlic Mustard seed pods. |
| UK population | Widespread and common; slightly increasing |
| Sefton Coast | Well-established on the Sefton Coast since the mid-1980s; now common in dune slacks and scrub edges |
| Conservation | UK Green List |
Where to See It
Damp dune slacks and scrub edges at Ainsdale. Cuckoo Flower is the key plant to look near.
Identification
Male: white wings with brilliant orange outer half of forewing. Female: white with black tip, no orange. Both: beautifully marbled green-and-white underside (looks like lichen). Single generation — only flies in spring.
Viewing & Photography Tips
Walk the dune slack edges at Ainsdale in May. Males patrol low over the vegetation looking for females. Near any patch of Cuckoo Flower (lilac-pink crucifer) is a reliable spot.
Conservation Status
UK Green List
This species has a favourable conservation status in the UK and remains an important part of Sefton Coast biodiversity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Orange-tip caterpillars not eat each other?
Orange-tip caterpillars are cannibalistic — if a larva finds another egg or young caterpillar on the same plant, it will eat it. This is why females lay only one egg per plant, and why caterpillars are almost always found alone. The egg colour (orange when fresh, turning grey) helps females identify already-occupied plants and avoid laying there.
Related Species
Plan your visit to the Sefton Coast
Marshside RSPB, Formby pinewoods, Ainsdale NNR — practical guides to getting there, what to bring, and the best spots for each season.