Stella Orangetip
Anthocharis stella W.H. Edwards, 1879
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, olive-green marbling. Some individuals are yellow.
Wing Span: 1 3/8 - 1 7/8 inches (3.5 - 4.8 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 from late March to mid-August, primarily mid-June through mid-July.
Caterpillar Hosts: Plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family including tansy-mustard (Descurainia), hedge mustard (Sisymbrium) and rock cresses (Arabis) species.
Adult Food: Flower nectar, including that of host mustards, violets, thistles, fiddleneck, and brodiaeas.
Habitat: Deserts, open woods, orchards, fields, meadows, stream courses, canyons.
Range: Alaska coast south to Baja California, east to North Dakota, New Mexico, extreme western Texas.
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 291 verified sightings
Observation date: Jul 02, 2022
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 23, 2022
Observation date: May 11, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Spokane County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 12, 2022
Observation date: May 04, 2022
Submitted by: Ed Rothwell
Region: Pend Oreille County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: May 05, 2022
Observation date: Jun 17, 2020
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Oct 26, 2021
Observation date: Jun 12, 2021
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Carbon County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 19, 2021
Observation date: Jun 22, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Aug 05, 2021
Observation date: Jun 16, 2021
Submitted by: jrmbutterfly
Region: British Columbia, Canada
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jul 01, 2021
Observation date: Jun 02, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 17, 2021
Observation date: Jun 03, 2021
Submitted by: stevecary
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 17, 2021
Observation date: Jun 08, 2021
Submitted by: WYbutterflyer1
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 16, 2021
Observation date: May 31, 2021
Submitted by: Zach Eckert
Region: Kittitas County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Jun 11, 2021
Observation date: May 12, 2013
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 03, 2021
Observation date: Apr 26, 2021
Submitted by: Butterflycindy61
Region: Ravalli County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 02, 2021
Observation date: Apr 17, 2021
Submitted by: Ben Meredyk
Region: Whitman County, Washington, United States
Verified by: davidwdroppers
Verified date: Apr 20, 2021
Observation date: Jun 04, 2019
Submitted by: DVL
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 27, 2021
Observation date: May 16, 2009
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Stillwater County, Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 09, 2021
Observation date: May 17, 2009
Submitted by: NikkiM
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Mar 07, 2021
Observation date: Jul 15, 2019
Submitted by: AaronB
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 30, 2020
Observation date: Jun 20, 2020
Submitted by: AaronB
Region: Montana, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 30, 2020
Observation date: Jun 27, 2020
Submitted by: Team Kweeper
Region: Amador County, California, United States
Verified by: Ken Davenport
Verified date: Jun 27, 2020
Observation date: Jun 06, 2020
Submitted by: kathy lichtendahl
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jun 11, 2020
Observation date: Jul 23, 2019
Submitted by: ncrosbyrd
Region: Park County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Aug 26, 2019
Observation date: Jun 30, 2019
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2019
Observation date: Jun 26, 2019
Submitted by: Diane R Halpin
Region: Teton County, Wyoming, United States
Verified by: J_Martineau
Verified date: Jul 10, 2019
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