One of the butterflies of spring in the UK is the orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines). These distinctive insects with their illustrative name appear after the brimstones, around the time when the peacocks become noticeable. On a recent walk we saw what appeared to be a particularly small orange tip and I wondered if, like some other genera, there were distinct "greater" and "lesser" or "large" and "small" species. It appears not. The explanation, however, is very interesting. It appears that the size of the male orange tip (the female is more drab without the eye catching colours) depends on the food that the individual feeds on. Smaller examples favour Cardamine pratensis (Ladies Smock or Milkmaids) whilst the larger butterflies feed on Alliaria petiolata (Garlic mustard). Interestingly, before seeing the orange tip, we had noted the milkmaids growing on the verges and by the hedges.
photo © T. Boughen Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2
