Anthocharis midea
In 3 days ~10%
Anthocharis midea, the falcate orangetip, is a North American butterfly that was described in 1809 by Jacob Hübner. It belongs to the family Pieridae, which is the white and sulphurs. These butterflies are mostly seen in the eastern United States, and in Texas and Oklahoma. They eat the nectar of violets and mustards. They tend to live in open, wet woods along waterways, in open swamps, and less often in dry woods and ridgetops. This species is a true springtime butterfly, being on the wing from April to May (March to May in southern Texas).
The tip of the upper side of the male's forewing is orange; females, however, lack this. Both have a round black spot located in the cell. The underside of the hindwing usually has intricate green marbling. The orangetips have a wingspan of around 3.5-4.5 centimeters.
The only similar species in the falcate orangetip's range is the Olympia marble (Euchloe olympia). The upper side of the Olympia marble's forewing has a grayish-black apex and the underside of the hindwing has yellow-green marbling.
Males patrol hilltops and flats all day seeking females. Females lay their eggs singly on... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shenandoah National Park | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Great Smoky Mountains National Park | 🇺🇸 United States |
| # | City | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Austin | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Washington | 🇺🇸 United States |
Rare
Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Falcate Orangetip sighting in Washington on a given day, based on 10 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 1330th most-seen of the 1807 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, if each day is a fresh chance.
Any time of year
In every month with enough records, under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Falcate Orangetip in Washington on a given day, so our monthly data shows no clear season.
Between noon and 3 pm
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Falcate Orangetip sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Among the best
Of the 2 cities where we can rate Falcate Orangetip sightings, Washington ranks 2nd at under 5%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Austin (United States, under 5%).
Same family: Pieridae
The closest relatives of the Falcate Orangetip that you can see in Washington (family Pieridae, Whites, Yellows, and Sulphurs) are Small White (about 20%), Orange Sulphur (about 10%) and Sleepy Orange (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Falcate Orangetip is recorded against all the insects logged in Washington (10 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
