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 507 verified sightings
Observation date: Jun 25, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2025
Observation date: May 09, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 10, 2025
Observation date: Apr 04, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 08, 2025
Observation date: Apr 06, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 07, 2025
Observation date: Mar 26, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Santa Clara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 27, 2025
Observation date: Mar 16, 2025
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 17, 2025
Observation date: Mar 09, 2025
Submitted by: ezeemonee
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 10, 2025
Observation date: Mar 04, 2025
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 06, 2025
Observation date: Feb 08, 2020
Submitted by: Robert Gorman
Region: Orange County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Dec 18, 2024
Observation date: Mar 27, 2024
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 14, 2024
Observation date: Mar 25, 2024
Submitted by: J_Martineau
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Nov 13, 2024
Observation date: Apr 03, 2016
Submitted by: Alison Davies
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 12, 2024
Observation date: Apr 18, 2024
Submitted by: dvollmar
Region: Riverside County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Aug 09, 2024
Observation date: May 20, 2024
Submitted by: mongoose
Region: Deschutes County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jul 01, 2024
Observation date: Jun 01, 2024
Submitted by: robertpb
Region: Fresno County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 08, 2024
Observation date: May 05, 2024
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 06, 2024
Observation date: Apr 29, 2024
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: May 03, 2024
Observation date: Apr 07, 2024
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 09, 2024
Observation date: Mar 21, 2024
Submitted by: shuckabone
Region: Siskiyou County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 21, 2024
Observation date: Mar 17, 2024
Submitted by: mstanek
Region: Los Angeles County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 18, 2024
Observation date: Mar 15, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 17, 2024
Observation date: Mar 17, 2024
Submitted by: Zencoyote
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 17, 2024
Observation date: Mar 14, 2024
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 15, 2024
Observation date: Mar 08, 2024
Submitted by: madamirie
Region: Monterey County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 12, 2024
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