North American Butterflies and Moths List

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Butterflies of North America

Butterflies of New Mexico

Southern Rocky Mountain Orangetip (Anthocharis julia)
JPG -- species photo

Southern Rocky Mountain Orangetip (Anthocharis julia W.H. Edwards)

Wing span: 1 - 1 1/4 inches (2.5 - 3.1 cm.).

Identification: Male white, female pale yellow. Very similar to Stella Orangetip but male pure white with darker marbling below.

Life history: Males patrol, mostly in valleys, for females. Eggs are laid singly near tops of host plants. Young caterpillars feed on flower buds, older ones on flowers and fruits. Chrysalids hibernate.

Flight: May-June.

Caterpillar hosts: Rock cresses (Arabis) species.

Adult food: Flower nectar, including that of rock cresses, violets, and other mustard family plants.

Habitat: Foothill and mountain canyons, meadows and streamcourses.

Range: Southeastern Wyoming south through Colorado Rockies into New Mexico.

Conservation: Conserve restricted populations.

Management needs: Preserve host plant and flyway habitats.

The Nature Conservancy Global Rank: G5 - Demonstrably secure globally, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

References:


Ferris, C.D. and F.M. Brown. 1981. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. 

     University of Oklahoma Press, Norman. 442 pages.



Opler, P.A. 1999. A field guide to western butterflies.  Houghton-Mifflin Co., 

     Boston, Mass. 540 pages, 44 color plates.



Scott, J. A. 1986. The butterflies of North America. Stanford University Press, 

     Stanford, Calif. 583 pages, 64 color plates.



Stanford, R. E. and P. A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of western USA butterflies including 

     adjacent parts of Canada and Mexico. Denver and Fort Collins, CO. 

Author: Paul A. Opler

State and Regional References:


Ferris, C.D. and F.M. Brown. 1980. Butterflies of the Rocky Mountain States. 

     University of Oklahoma Press. Norman.



Opler, Paul A. 1999. Peterson Field Guide to Western Butterflies, revised 

     edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.



Stanford, R.E. and P.A. Opler. 1993. Atlas of Western USA Butterflies. 

     Privately published, Denver, Colo.



Tilden, J.W. and A.C. Smith. 1986. A Field Guide to Western Butterflies. 

     Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Mass.



Add Toliver, M., Holland, R., and S.J. Cary. 1996. Distributional data

     for New Mexico Butterflies. Privately published. Albuquerque, N.M.

Southern Rocky Mountain Orangetip (Anthocharis julia)
distribution map
map legend

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