Butterflies and Moths of North America

collecting and sharing data about Lepidoptera

Southwestern Orangetip
Anthocharis thoosa (Scudder, 1878)


Family: Pieridae
Subfamily: Pierinae
Identification: Male white, female either white or yellowish, especially on hindwing. Most similar to Sara Orangetip, but black bar on inner edge of orange tip very wide, and marbling nearly black.
Wing Span: 1 - 1 ½ inches (2.5-3.7 cm).
Life History: Plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family including tansy-mustard (Descurainia), hedge mustard (Sisymbrium) and rock cresses (Arabis) species.
Flight: Late February through April.
Caterpillar Hosts:
Adult Food: Flower nectar, including that of host mustards.
Habitat: Mainly juniper or pinyon-juniper woodland. Also desert hills.
Range: Arid intermountain West from northern Nevada, Utah, and western Colorado south to western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southeastern California.
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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