Southwestern Orangetip (Anthocharis thoosa [Scudder])
Wing span: 1 - 1 ½ inches (2.5-3.7 cm).
Identification: Male white, female either white or yellowish, especially on hindwing. Most similar to Sara Orangetip, but black bar on inner edge of orange tip very wide, and marbling nearly black.
Life history: Plants in the mustard (Brassicaceae) family including tansy-mustard (Descurainia), hedge mustard (Sisymbrium) and rock cresses (Arabis) species.
Flight: Late February through April.
Adult food: Flower nectar, including that of host mustards.
Habitat: Mainly juniper or pinyon-juniper woodland. Also desert hills.
Range: Arid intermountain West from northern Nevada, Utah, and western Colorado south to western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and southeastern California.
Conservation: Conserve restricted populations.
Management needs: Preserve host plant and flyway habitats.
The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.
References:
Bailowitz, R. A., and J. P. Brock. 1991. Butterflies of southeastern Arizona.
Sonoran Arthropod Studies, Inc., Tucson, Arizona. 342 pages.
Emmel, T.C. and J.F. Emmel. 1973. The butterflies of southern California. Natural
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Author: Paul A. Opler
State and Regional References:
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California. Lepidoptera Research Foundation, Beverly Hills, Calif.
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edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.
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Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.
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