One of the winged creatures that is currently much in evidence here at RSPB Frampton Marsh reserve is the orange-tip butterfly. Look for them along the hedgerows and lanes and around damp grassland areas. Adults are first seen in late April to May and later this month and during June, they will be laying their bottle-shaped eggs beneath the buds and flowers of the caterpillars’ foodplants such as garlic mustard and cuckooflower. (No prizes for guessing which bird is calling at the time this lovely little plant is in bloom!) In folklore, the cuckooflower, or lady’s smock, is said to be sacred to the fairies and so it was considered to be unlucky if the plant was brought indoors. For the same reason, cuckooflowers were not included in May Day garlands.
Orange-tip butterflies are a true sign that summer is just around the corner, being one of the first species to emerge that has not overwintered as an adult. They are named after the bright orange tips on the males’ forewings, which warn predators of their foul taste. This is the result of mustard oils that have accumulated in the body from the larval foodplant. The undersides of the orange-tip’s hindwings have beautifully subtle, marbled green and white markings, providing camouflage when the insect is settled in vegetation. This distinctive pattern separates female orange-tips (which don’t have orange tips!) from the similar small and green-veined whites.
The female orange-tip will locate a suitable plant for egg-laying by tasting it with her feet and then lay her eggs singly...and with good reason. Given the chance, orange-tip caterpillars are cannibalistic! It is unusual to find more than one egg per plant and it is believed that the female is able to detect eggs that have already been laid. The main source of food for the larvae is developing seed pods.
What a complicated and interesting life for such a lovely little butterfly and wait for it...the good news is that this is one species that is doing well in the UK. Its population and distribution are both increasing.
There are plenty of other butterflies around too so why not nip round to the reserve and have a little flutter?!
Murray Brown
Visitor Experience Intern
Photo by Tom Marshall (rspb-images.com)