Provence orange tip facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Provence orange tip |
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The Provence orange tip (scientific name: Anthocharis euphenoides) is a beautiful species of butterfly. It belongs to the Pieridae family, which includes many white and yellow butterflies. This butterfly gets its name from the bright orange tips on the male's wings.
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Discover the Provence Orange Tip Butterfly
This section will tell you more about where these butterflies live and what makes them special.
Where Do Provence Orange Tips Live?
You can find the Provence orange tip butterfly in several parts of Europe. They live across the Iberian Peninsula (which includes Spain and Portugal), but not in the far southwest or northeast areas. They are also common in southern France, from the Pyrenees mountains all the way to the Alpes-Maritimes region. In Italy, you can spot them in the Abruzzo area. There have also been a few sightings in southern Switzerland, specifically in Ticino.
What Does the Provence Orange Tip Look Like?
The Provence orange tip butterfly is quite striking. Males have bright orange patches on the tips of their forewings. Females can look a bit different; some have a large reddish-yellow patch instead of orange. Both male and female butterflies have unique patterns on the underside of their hindwings. These patterns help scientists tell them apart.
The Life Cycle of the Provence Orange Tip
Like all butterflies, the Provence orange tip starts its life as a caterpillar. The caterpillars are usually green with yellow and black markings on their backs. They also have white stripes along their sides and many small black dots. Their heads are green.
What Do Caterpillars Eat?
Provence orange tip caterpillars mainly eat plants from the Biscutella family. These plants are very important for their growth. Interestingly, these caterpillars are sometimes called "cannibal-caterpillars." This means that if food is scarce, they might eat other caterpillars of their own kind to survive.
From Caterpillar to Butterfly
After growing big enough, the caterpillar changes into a pupa. The pupa can be light brown or green and has a very curved shape. This is the stage where the caterpillar transforms into a butterfly.
Image Gallery
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Museum specimens of Provence orange tip
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Female Provence orange tip
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Female Provence orange tip (underside)
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Male Provence orange tip
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Male Provence orange tip (underside)
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An illustration of Anthocharis butterflies
