Description: Wingspan 37-49mm. Both sexes have extensive green mottling on the underside of the hindwing. This can often be seen from the upperside. The male has a large orange blotch on the apex of the forewing on both the upper and underside. Single-brooded flying between mid-April and the end of June, exceptionally from late March to the end of July.

World Distribution: Europe, apart from extreme south and north, and across Asia to China.

Irish Distribution: Found throughout N. Ireland except for upland areas. Present on Rathlin I.

Ecology: A non-colonial species existing in loose, open populations in damp grassland, gardens, woodland margins and along hedgerows. Adult males are wide-ranging in suitable habitat whilst females are more sedentary, remaining in the vicinity of foodplants. The eggs are laid singly on the foodplant, positioned just on the base of the flowerhead or on the stem below it. These turn bright orange and are easily seen. The commonest foodplants are Cuckoo-flower Cardamine pratensis in damp habitats and Garlic Mustard Alliaria petiolata in drier situations. Other related plants may also be used. The pupa overwinters.

Key Identification Features:

• Male is unmistakable with orange and black markings on forewing.
• Underside of hindwing has irregular patches of green mottling

Distribution Map from NBN: Anthocharis cardamines at National Biodiversity Network mapping facility, data for UK.

iNaturalist: Anthocharis cardamines at iNaturalist World Species Observations database.