Harbinger of Spring

The first butterfly of the season must certainly mean that spring is finally here!

Falcate Orangetip (Anthocharis midea) is considered a harbinger of spring and was a thrill to find. This is the first time I've seen this species in our garden.

 This butterfly is usually seen flying low to the ground March to May. The forewings have hooked or falcate tips. The male's wings also have a distinctively orange tip which gives the species its common name. The hindwings of both sexes are beautifully marbled.

The head and thorax are hairy and look at those eyes~! What a unique creature.

Plants in the mustard family are the host for this butterfly while the preferred nectar plants are mustard blooms and violets. I happen to plant mustard greens in the raised beds this winter which are blooming now.

And violets are blooming abundantly now throughout our garden. 

Males will relentlessly patrol for females along moist woodlands, stopping briefly for food. Females will only lay one egg per host plant which is yellow-green and turns red when about to hatch. The caterpillar prefers to eat the flowers and buds (not the leaves).

Unfortunately, this female was either perched or flying too quickly for me to get a photo with the wings open. I didn't spot a male but hopefully there is one around.