The Orange-Tip butterfly, Anthocharis cardamines is the prettiest of the springtime butterflies and remains a common sight across the High Weald.
It can often be seen in meadows and woodland margins this month. The male bears the distinctive orange wing‐tip that its’ name refers to – the female is much less showy, having a mottled white and black underside.
One of this butterfly’s favourite food plants is the cuckoo flower, or lady’s smock, Cardamine pratensis hence the Orange Tip's Latin name. Another favourite food source is Garlic Mustard and both plants are found in a range of damp habitats.
Walk down any High Weald lane and watch out for the Orange Tip amongst cuckoo flower in the ditches and damp grass verges.