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Anthocharis cardamines


Anthocharis cardamines
Photo Information
Copyright: Roberto Innocenzi (cobra112) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2093 W: 75 N: 6382] (43366)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2014-06-20
Categories: Insects
Camera: Nikon D300s, Sigma 105mm 1:2.8 EX DG Macro
Photo Version: Original Version
Date Submitted: 2014-12-03 11:59
Viewed: 1599
Points: 12
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta

Order: Lepidoptera

Division: Rhopalocera

Family: Pieridae

Tribe: Anthocharini

Genus: Anthocharis

Species:A. cardamines

The Orange Tip (Anthocharis cardamines) is a butterfly in the Pieridae family. So named because of the male's bright orange tips to his forewings. The males are a common sight in spring flying along hedgerows and damp meadows in search of the more reclusive female which lacks the orange and is often mistaken for one of the other 'White' butterflies. The undersides are mottled green and white and create a superb camouflage when settled on flowerheads such as Cow Parsley and Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata. The male is able to hide his orange tips by tucking the forwings behind the hindwings at rest. If you look closely at the mottling you will see that the green colour is in fact made up of a mixture of black and yellow scales. It is found across Europe, and eastwards into temperate Asia as far as Japan. The past 30 years has seen a rapid increase in the range of the Orange Tip in the UK particularly in Scotland and Ireland, probably in response to climate change. The female lays eggs singly on the flowerheads of Cuckooflower Cardamine pratensis and Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata and many other species of wild Crucifers, all of which contain chemicals called glucosinolates. Females are attracted to larger flowers, such as Hesperis matronalis, even though some such species are poor larval hosts. Selection of foodplants is triggered by the presence of mustard oils and their derivative glucosinolates, which (in Pierinae)are detected by chemosensory hairs on the fore-legs. Reproductive rate of females appears to be limited by difficulties in finding suitable hosts. As a consequence, the species has evolved to use a wide range of crucifers. The eggs are white to begin with but change to a bright orange after a few days before darkening off just before hatching. Because the larvae feed almost exclusively on the flowers and developing seedpods there is rarely enough food to support more than one larva per plant. If two larvae meet one will often be eaten by the other to eliminate its competitor. Newly hatched larvae will also eat unhatched eggs for the same reason. To stop eggs from being laid on plants already laid on the female leaves a pheromone to deter future females from laying. There are five larval instars. The green and white caterpillar is attacked by several natural enemies (notably Tachinid flies and Braconid wasps). Pupation occurs in early summer in scrubby vegetation near the foodplant, where they stay to emerge the following spring. Recent research suggests that the emergence of the butterfly may be delayed for as much as two years, thus ensuring the species against unfavourable conditions in a given season. Some Orange Tips may be confused with moths.

Lunghezza ala anteriore: 16-23 mm
Distribuzione in Italia: tutta Italia.
Habitat: cespuglieti, margini dei boschi e radure dal livello del mare al piano montano sino a circa 1900 metri s.l.m.
Generazioni annuali: una sola con sfarfallamento da aprile a giugno.
Piante nutrici: Arabis sagittata. Arabis turrita. Sinapis arvensis. Alliaria petiolata. Thlapsi arvense.
Hotelcalifornia, marius-secan has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

Ciao Luciano, gran bella femmina, di buon auspicio , che è tra le prime ad uscire fuori a primavera, da un po' fastidio l'ombra dello stelo, ma sapendo per triste esperienza quanto è difficile beccarla ferma sei più che perdonato, per il resto solita fantastica qualità, bravissimo, ciao Silvio

  • Great 
  • PeterZ Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 5137 W: 166 N: 13121] (49139)
  • [2014-12-03 12:30]

Hello Roberto,
Excellent sharp detailed macro in beautiful colours in an excellent white balance. Taken from a good POV.
Regards,
Peter

Hello Roberto - Excellent detailed picture of this attractive butterfly. Very good sharpness with perfect exposure. Thanks for sharing. Regards - Srikumar

hallo Roberto
very nice picture with good sharpness and beautiful colours
thanks gr lou

Hello Roberto,
Nice details, excellent colors and perfect focus as usual. Great composition from a difficult POV.
Marius.

  • Great 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 6595 W: 89 N: 15659] (65489)
  • [2014-12-12 1:43]

Ciao Roby,anche se la foto non è il top ma non per colpa tua ma per la location,i complimenti sono d'obbligo,una delle specie piu' isteriche che sei riuscito a beccare,penso che ti abbia dato gli stessi problemi del pc per catturarla..ehehe...buon WE,Luciano

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