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
Verified Sightings
Displaying 1 - 24 of 370 verified sightings
Observation date: May 26, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 31, 2017
Observation date: Apr 18, 2017
Submitted by: reginacohn
Region: San Bernardino County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 24, 2017
Observation date: May 03, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 08, 2017
Observation date: Apr 30, 2017
Submitted by: treichard
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 04, 2017
Observation date: Apr 22, 2017
Submitted by: Kristie Nelson
Region: Mono County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2017
Observation date: Apr 15, 2017
Submitted by: Selwyn Quan
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 25, 2017
Observation date: Apr 16, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 23, 2017
Observation date: Apr 16, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 19, 2017
Observation date: Apr 01, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 06, 2017
Observation date: Apr 01, 2017
Submitted by: diwalks2@gmail.com
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 06, 2017
Observation date: Mar 19, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Cruz Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 20, 2017
Observation date: Mar 19, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Cruz Island County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 20, 2017
Observation date: Mar 17, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 19, 2017
Observation date: Mar 13, 2017
Submitted by: Zonotrichia
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 16, 2017
Observation date: Feb 09, 2017
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 11, 2017
Observation date: Jan 30, 2017
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jan 31, 2017
Observation date: Mar 17, 2016
Submitted by: JoseBonner
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 29, 2016
Observation date: Apr 26, 2016
Submitted by: carlysummer
Region: Adams County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Sep 20, 2016
Observation date: May 27, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 28, 2016
Observation date: Apr 19, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 20, 2016
Observation date: Apr 10, 2016
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2016
Observation date: Apr 10, 2016
Submitted by: lma52
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 13, 2016
Observation date: Apr 06, 2016
Submitted by: PDunwiddie
Region: Pierce County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 11, 2016
Observation date: Apr 03, 2016
Submitted by: PONYRCR
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 04, 2016
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