Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History

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Santa Barbara Field Guides - Butterflies
Lepidoptera
   Pieridae

     Anthocharis cethura
     Desert Orangetip


upperside
underside

Size: Wingspread 1.25-1.5 in.
Recognition: FW of both sexes white with black-edged orange wing bar that does not reach hind corner of wing; HW white with small black dots at outer edge; underside of hind wing mottled with white, green and yellow.
Flight period: Adults active in early to mid-spring.
Hostplants: Desert Orangetip larvae feed on a wide variety of plants in the mustard family (Brassicaceae).
Habitat: This species prefers desert areas, particularly rocky hilltops.
Distribution: The Desert Orangetip ranges throughout the drier parts of the southwestern U.S. and northwestern Mexico. In our area it will only be found in the drier inland areas, such as the Cuyama Valley. There is also an isolated population on Santa Catalina Island.

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