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 384 verified sightings
Observation date: May 19, 2018
Submitted by: Bratsch1
Region: Kootenai County, Idaho, United States
Verified by: stevekohler
Verified date: Jun 15, 2018
Observation date: Apr 14, 2018
Submitted by: beauty
Region: San Luis Obispo County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 27, 2018
Observation date: Apr 08, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 15, 2018
Observation date: Apr 05, 2018
Submitted by: treichard
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 15, 2018
Observation date: Mar 28, 2018
Submitted by: Weaselfamily
Region: Sherman County, Oregon, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 05, 2018
Observation date: Mar 29, 2018
Submitted by: MAKI
Region: Ventura County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Apr 04, 2018
Observation date: Mar 18, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 29, 2018
Observation date: Mar 16, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 29, 2018
Observation date: Mar 19, 2018
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: San Diego County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Mar 29, 2018
Observation date: Mar 20, 2018
Submitted by: Chris Carvalho
Region: Klickitat County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Mar 25, 2018
Observation date: Feb 09, 2018
Submitted by: Lisahug
Region: Sonoma County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Feb 10, 2018
Observation date: Apr 07, 2016
Submitted by: genevieveshanea...
Region: Santa Barbara County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 19, 2017
Observation date: Apr 29, 2017
Submitted by: Nancy Asquith
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2017
Observation date: Apr 29, 2017
Submitted by: Nancy Asquith
Region: Alameda County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Oct 14, 2017
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
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