Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) in Ireland

Barr buí in Gaeilge. The Orange Tip, Anthocharis cardamines, is the spring signature of Irish damp meadows and hedgerow verges, and one of the earliest resident species on the wing.

Identify it in four steps

1. Males show a bright orange patch across the outer half of each forewing, edged with black at the tip and clear white below.
2. Females lack the orange patch and are white above with black forewing tips; often mistaken for Small White at first glance.
3. Both sexes carry a mottled yellow-green underside on the hindwing, the strongest field mark when the wings are closed on a Cuckoo Flower.
4. Wingspan 40 to 52 mm; flight is a slow, patrolling wander along hedgerow bases and damp meadow margins.

Habitat in Ireland

The Orange Tip uses damp meadow, road verge, woodland ride, and mature garden. It depends on Cuckoo Flower (Cardamine pratensis) and Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) as its principal larval foodplants, with occasional use of Hedge Mustard and Wintercress.

Females lay single pale-orange eggs on the flower stems below developing seed pods. Larvae are cannibalistic when crowded, so females avoid plants that already carry an egg. The species overwinters as a pupa attached low on a foodplant stem.

Where to see it

• the Gearagh, County Cork: damp alluvial woodland edges with abundant Cuckoo Flower from mid-April.
• Wicklow Mountains National Park lower rides: woodland verges and streamside meadows produce reliable April to June sightings.
• Lough Boora Discovery Park, County Offaly: cutover peatland edges and damp verges hold healthy populations.

Related species

• Small White (Pieris rapae)
• Green-veined White (Pieris napi)
• Brimstone (Gonepteryx rhamni)