One of Ireland’s most distinctive butterflies, only the male has the orange tips which give this species its name. The females look somewhat like Dappled Whites and tend to be more inconspicuous. Several other species fly in southern and eastern Europe but the ground-colour of these species is more yellowish to varying degrees. It is a an early-flying species and is seen as the harbinger of spring, as it bobs around damp meadows full of Cuckooflower.

Distribution: Most of Europe except southern Portugal, Spain and northern Fennoscandia.

Flight Period: March-June in 1 brood, peaking in April in most years.

Habitat: Damp meadows, heaths, woodland clearings up to around 2000m. Occasionally parks and gardens.

Foodplants: Primarily Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), but also other Brassicae. 

Nectar Sources: Cuckooflower (Cardamine pratensis), dandelions (Taracaxum), bugles (Ajuga), Ragged Robin (Lychnis flos-cuculi).

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