Orange-tip

Name: Orange-tip

Scientific name: Anthocharis cardamines

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 30

What are nature stars?

About: A small butterfly, with a wingspan of about 4.5cm. Adults fly in the spring, between April and June. A common butterfly, found in a wide variety of habitats, including hedgerows, woodland rides and meadows, as well as farmland, gardens and parks. The foodplants are garlic mustard, cuckooflower and hedge mustard.

How to identify: The male is unmistakeable, with his bold orange tips to the wings. The female looks like a small version of the whites, but can be told by the mottled 'mossy grey' pattern on the underside of her hindwings.

Where: Found across the country, although scarcer in the north of Scotland.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 70
• Rarity: 30
• Cute factor: 50
• Traveller: 50

Fantastic fact: Orange-tip caterpillars are cannibals when young!

Photograph credit: Keith Warmington/www.warmies.co.uk