Desert Orangetip
Anthocharis cethura C. Felder & R. Felder, 1865
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: White to pale yellow with orange tip on forewing. Green marbling on underside of hindwing.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 1/2 inches (2.5 - 4.0 cm.)
Life History: Eggs are laid on flower buds of host plants. Caterpillars eat flowers and young seed pods. Chrysalis overwinters, may pass several years before adult emerges.
Flight: Early February - April.
Caterpillar Hosts: Tansy-mustard, jewelflower, tumble mustard and probably other plants in Mustard family.
Adult Food: Flower nectar.
Habitat: Rocky desert hills and ridges.
Range: Northwestern Nevada south through southeastern California and western Arizona to northern Mexico.
Conservation: Catalina Orangetip (subspecies catalina) found only on Santa Catalina Island off southern California coast is of conservation concern.
NCGR: G4,G5 for species, T1T2 for subspecies catalina.
Management Needs: Many habitats threatened by exotic cheatgrass invasion.
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 314 verified sightings
Observation date: Feb 25, 2025
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 27, 2025
Observation date: Feb 24, 2025
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Feb 27, 2025
Observation date: Mar 17, 2024
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 23, 2024
Observation date: Feb 24, 2024
Submitted by: guy_incognito
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 25, 2024
Observation date: Mar 01, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 10, 2023
Observation date: May 07, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2023
Observation date: May 07, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 07, 2023
Observation date: Apr 01, 2023
Submitted by: Marta Reece
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Apr 04, 2023
Observation date: Mar 14, 2023
Submitted by: asombro_institute
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 22, 2023
Observation date: Feb 20, 2023
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 26, 2023
Observation date: Feb 17, 2022
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Oct 31, 2022
Observation date: Mar 01, 2022
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 30, 2022
Observation date: Mar 24, 2022
Submitted by: joeschelling
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 26, 2022
Observation date: Mar 17, 2022
Submitted by: jamesvonloh
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 19, 2022
Observation date: Mar 16, 2022
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 18, 2022
Observation date: Mar 17, 2022
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 18, 2022
Observation date: Mar 01, 2022
Submitted by: Gordon Berman
Region: Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States
Verified by: stevecary
Verified date: Mar 06, 2022
Observation date: Mar 17, 2021
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: La Paz County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Jun 09, 2021
Observation date: Apr 17, 2020
Submitted by: J Tinsman
Region: Clark County, Nevada, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 19, 2020
Observation date: Mar 04, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Mar 15, 2020
Observation date: Feb 29, 2020
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Mar 13, 2020
Observation date: Feb 18, 2020
Submitted by: jigamaree
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 19, 2020
Observation date: Feb 27, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Pima County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 07, 2020
Observation date: Mar 01, 2019
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Maricopa County, Arizona, United States
Verified by: John Saba
Verified date: Feb 07, 2020
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