Moroccan orange tip facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Moroccan orange tip
female A. b. belia, Tunisia
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Pieridae
Genus:	Anthocharis
Species:	A. belia
Binomial name
Anthocharis belia (Linnaeus, 1767)
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The Moroccan orange tip (scientific name: Anthocharis belia) is a beautiful butterfly from the Pieridae family. This butterfly lives in northwestern Africa, in countries like Morocco, Algeria, and Tunisia. Its front wings usually measure about 18 to 20 millimeters long.

What Does the Moroccan Orange Tip Look Like?

The Moroccan orange tip butterfly looks a lot like another butterfly called Anthocharis damone. However, the Moroccan orange tip has a smaller orange patch on its wings. This orange patch is also more clearly outlined with a dark color.

Male and Female Differences

Male Moroccan orange tips have a bright orange patch on their wings. This patch often has a black spot in the middle. Females do not have this orange patch. Instead, their wing tips might have a reddish-yellow color.

About the Larvae

The young butterflies, called larvae or caterpillars, are green. They have yellow and black markings on their backs. These larvae look very similar to the caterpillars of a related butterfly, A. euphenoides. They usually feed on plants like Biscutella.

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  A female Moroccan orange tip (Anthocharis belia belia) from above.

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  A female Moroccan orange tip (Anthocharis belia belia) from below.

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  A male Anthocharis belia androgyne from above.

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  A male Anthocharis belia androgyne from below.

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  A female Anthocharis belia androgyne from above.

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  A female Anthocharis belia androgyne from below.

Life Cycle and Habitat

The caterpillars of the Moroccan orange tip butterfly eat certain plants. In the wild, they feed on Biscutella laevigata and Sisymbrium officinale. When raised by people, they can also eat Alyssum.

Living in Morocco

In Morocco, there is a special type of this butterfly called A.b. androgyne. In this type, the females look more like the males. This butterfly lives alongside other similar butterfly species.

Caterpillar Behavior

Sometimes, the caterpillars of these butterflies might eat other caterpillars. This can happen even among different species living in the same area.

Choosing a Home

These butterflies do not pick different food plants to avoid each other. Instead, they choose different places to live. The Moroccan orange tip butterfly prefers places that are more stable and have plants that live for a long time.

Gallery

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  An illustration of Anthocharis eupheno from Seitz, which is another name for Anthocharis belia.