Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Falcate Orangetip
Anthocharis midea (Hübner, [1809])


Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upperside of male forewing with orange, hooked tip; females hooked, but lack orange; both have round black spot in cell. Underside of hindwing has finely-patterned green marbling.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 1 3/4 inches (3.5 - 4.5 cm).
Life History: Males patrol for females. Only one egg is laid per host plant, singly on a flower stalk. Caterpillars feed on buds, flowers, and seed pods. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight from March-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants of the mustard (Brassicaceae) family including rock cress (Arabis) and winter cress (Barbarea) species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar including flowers of mustards, violets, and others.
Habitat: Open, wet woods along waterways, open swamps, occasionally dry woods and ridgetops.
Range: Southern New England southwest to south Texas, north to eastern Oklahoma and Kansas. Local populations or strays to Florida panhandle, eastern Nebraska, and southern Wisconsin.
Conservation: Not usually required.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Not reported.
Comments: NULL
Alternate Scientific Names:
Anthocaris midea
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