Pacific Orangetip
Anthocharis sara Lucas, 1852
Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Upperside of male forewing with large, orange-red spot; border of apex dark, narrow. Female spot smaller; dark border with white wedges. Underside of hindwing with scattered, dark-green marbling. Late spring individuals are larger with less black and hyave yellow green marbling below. Some individuals are yellow.
Wing Span: 1 1/16 - 1 1/2 inches (2.7 - 4.0 cm).
Life History: Males patrol, mostly in valleys, for females. Eggs are laid singly near tops of host plants. Young caterpillars feed on flower buds, older ones on flowers and fruits. Chrysalids hibernate.
Flight: One flight during June in Alaska; primary flight on California coast from February-April with a second partial flight from May-June.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family especially rock cresses such as tower mustard. In California, presence of late flowering \"true\"" mustards (Brassica species) allows extended larval feeding and a partial second flight."
Adult Food: Flower nectar, including that of host mustards, thistles, fiddleneck, and brodiaeas.
Habitat: Open oak woods in hills, orchards, fields, meadows, streamcourses, canyons.
Range: Alaska coast south to Baja California mainly to west of Pacific divide.
Conservation: Conserve restricted populations.
NCGR: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
Management Needs: Preserve host plant and flyway habitats.
Comments: NULL
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Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 455 verified sightings
Observation date: May 18, 2022
Submitted by: Samela95437
Region: Mendocino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 18, 2022
Observation date: May 12, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 13, 2022
Observation date: May 10, 2022
Submitted by: hiker96
Region: Thurston County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 12, 2022
Observation date: May 01, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 02, 2022
Observation date: Apr 22, 2022
Submitted by: Birder2
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 22, 2022
Observation date: Apr 20, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 21, 2022
Observation date: Apr 16, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2022
Observation date: Apr 16, 2022
Submitted by: dlister
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 17, 2022
Observation date: Apr 02, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 07, 2022
Observation date: Apr 03, 2022
Submitted by: camflies
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Apr 02, 2022
Submitted by: Deantroi
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 03, 2022
Observation date: Mar 12, 2021
Submitted by: yhelfman
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 30, 2022
Observation date: Mar 17, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 21, 2022
Observation date: Mar 13, 2022
Submitted by: Seth Mueller
Region: California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 18, 2022
Observation date: Feb 12, 2022
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 03, 2022
Observation date: Feb 07, 2022
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 23, 2022
Observation date: Feb 10, 2022
Submitted by: glennfine
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 11, 2022
Observation date: Feb 07, 2022
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 10, 2022
Observation date: Jun 12, 2018
Submitted by: Mark Salvato
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 11, 2021
Observation date: Apr 30, 2021
Submitted by: Ssneed
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2021
Observation date: Jun 05, 2021
Submitted by: jhintermeister
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 07, 2021
Observation date: May 20, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 21, 2021
Observation date: May 12, 2021
Submitted by: weflybye
Region: Mason County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 13, 2021
Observation date: Apr 25, 2021
Submitted by: dkaralun
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2021
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