David Element's Wildlife Web Page Butterflies 29

David Element

Wildlife Photography

and Digital Video Images

____ Butterflies 15 - Pieridae - Orange-Tips 2

ORANGE-TIP BUTTERFLY Anthocharis cardamines britannica (m)

ORANGE-TIP BUTTERFLY Anthocharis cardamines britannica

Orange-Tips are extremely active during sunny spring days. They are difficult subjects to photograph if the sun is shining as they fly rapidly between nectar sources at faster than walking pace. This may keep the photographer very fit but it can be frustrating if the subject persistently refuses to settle for long enough to be filmed. However, if one can be located on a partly cloudy or cool day or perhaps late in the afternoon and watched until it settles then photography may be quite straightforward. This may be restricted to 'closed wing' shots unless the sun emerges. The male shown in the first four digital photographs was roosting on Garlic Mustard (or Jack-by-the-hedge) Allaria petiolata, one of the principal larval foodplants of this insect and it had just opened its wings in response to the emergence of the sun when the photographer's hammerhead flash bulb exploded with terminal consequences for both the flash and this sequence of photographs! The larvae tend to be cannibalistic, so if more than one egg is laid in the same area of the plant then the oldest larva will take full advantage of any additional protein supply inadvertantly provided in this manner, a genuine,albeit paradoxical example of the 'survival of the fittest' principle. The mottled 'green' effect on the underside of the butterfly's wings is in fact an optical illusion, the combination of a subtle arrangement of black and yellow scales. When the butterfly has settled on Garlic Mustard with the wings closed the advantages of this cryptic coloration become quite apparent as the camouflage is most convincing, breaking up the butterfly's outline. Only the male bears the bright orange flashes on the tips of the forewings. The final close-up has been scanned from a transparency and this illustrates the scale arrangement of the sense organs attached to the head very clearly. Further images of this beautiful species may be found on Butterflies 6 and Butterflies 15.

Links to 'ARKive' species accounts:

For further information about the Orange-tip Butterfly use the following link: http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_terrestrial_and_freshwater/Anthocharis_cardamines/ . Some of David's digital video material of this species may also be located by following this link.

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