Range:
This species ranges from Alaska south to southern California, east to the eastern
side of the Rockies, and south through New Mexico. It occurs through most of
Idaho.
Habitat:
The Sara Orangetip can be found in a variety of open places,
such as meadows, fields, ridge tops, canyons, and deserts.
Diet:
Caterpillar:
Caterpillars feed on members of the mustard family (Brassicaceae), including
cresses (Arabis spp.), tumble mustard (Sisymbrium spp.) and tansy
mustard (Descurainia spp.). Young caterpillars eat leaves while older
ones feed on flowers and fruits.
Adult:
Butterflies drink flower nectar.
Ecology:
There is usually one generation of caterpillars during the summer. Pupae overwinter in a physiological
state called diapause. There may be two generations
in some locations in California, in which case only the second overwinters.
Adults generally fly
from March through July. Butterflies typically fly close to the ground and close
to vegetation.
Reproduction:
Males actively patrol
valleys for receptive females. Females lay eggs singly on various parts of host plants
,
typically towards the top of the plant.
Conservation:
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Global Rank: |
G5; populations are widespread, abundant, and secure. |
Opler, P. A., H. Pavulaan, and R. E. Stanford. 1995. Butterflies of North America. Jamestown, North Dakota, USA: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Home Page. http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/distr/lepid/bflyusa/bflyusa.htm (Version 05Nov98).
Opler, P. A. and A. B.Wright. 1999. A Field Guide to the Western Butterflies. Second Edition. Peterson Field Guide Series. Houghton Mifflin Company, New York, New York, USA, 540 pp.
Pyle, R. M. 1981. National Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Butterflies. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York, New York, USA, 924 pp.
Scott, J. A. 1986. The Butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California, USA, 583 pp.
Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western U.S.A. Butterflies (Including Adjacent Parts of Canada and Mexico). Published by authors, Denver, Colorado, USA, 275 pp.