Falcate Orangetip

Flighty Falcate Orangetips move quickly, but the flashes of orange on the male's wings are hard to miss, even in dimly lit, dense woods.

Updated: 3/30/2020; Authored By Staff Writer; Content ©www.InsectIdentification.org

The Falcate Orangetip is a sexually dimorphic species. This means that males and females have some differences, and in this case, it is the color of the wing tips. Males have bright orange in the upper corner of their forewings that really stands out on the white wing. A single black dot sits just below that orange patch. Females lack the orange color completely, though it may be replaced with a small bit of ashy gray in the tip instead. The single black dot may be just a bit larger on the female. Both sexes have a black-and-white checkered border around the wing tips and both have fuzzy, dark gray bodies on top that are white underneath. The underside of their wings are white with a black and gray marbling on the hindwing.

The caterpillar is white with a black 'back'. A yellow line runs down the 'spine' and is flanked by light blue or turquoise lines that are freckled with black dots of varying sizes. It feeds on wildflowers that bloom in spring, like rock cress, Spring Beauty, and toothwort. This caterpillar spends a great deal of time in chrysalis form with some extending this life stage through autumn and winter.

Look for flying adults in early and late spring near woodlands. They are fast in flight, so admire them for as long as they allow.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Family: Pieridae

Genus: Anthocharis

Species: midea

Identifying Information

Scientific Name: Anthocharis midea

Category: Butterfly or Moth

Size (Adult; Length): 35mm to 45mm (1.37in to 1.76in)

Colors: orange; white; black

Descriptors: sexual dimorphic; orange wing tips; black dot on white wing; flying; speckled marbled underwing; black and white edge border; gray hairy body; fast

Territorial Map

Alaska

Hawaii

Prince Edward Is.

Territory map graphic of the country of Mexico

Contiguous United States shape map layer graphic

Territorial Reach (A-to-Z)

Newfoundland and Labrador

Note: An insect's reach is not limited by lines drawn on a map and therefore species may appear in areas, regions and/or states beyond those listed above as they are driven by environmental factors (such as climate change), available food supplies and mating patterns. Grayed-out selections indicate that the subject in question has not been reported in that particular territory. U.S. states and Canadian provinces / territories are clickable to their respective bug listings.

Butterfly and Moth Anatomy

Graphic showing basic anatomy of a common North American butterfly and moth insect

Antennae: Butterflies and Moths have a pair of antennae on the head used as sensors.

Head: The head is home to the insect's eyes, antennae, and proboscis.

Thorax: Home to the three pairs of legs as well as vital internal organs.

Abdomen: Contains vital internal organs such as the heart(s) and reproduction facilities.

Forewing: The upper, forward wing pair used for flying.

Hindwing: The lower, rearward wing pair used for flying.

NOTE: Butterflies and Moths are part of the Lepidopteran order as they share many similarities.

Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea)

Detailing the physical features, habits, territorial reach and other identifying qualities of the Falcate Orangetip.

Flighty Falcate Orangetips move quickly, but the flashes of orange on the male's wings are hard to miss, even in dimly lit, dense woods.