Anthocharis cethura cethura
Desert Orangetip
The desert orangetip may be found early in the year, using a variety of mustard-family plants. The Monroe's Anza-Borrego book lists Thysanocarpus curvipes (fringe pod, a.k.a. lacepod), Descurainia pinnata (yellow tansy mustard), Caulanthus simulans (Payson's wild cabbage), and Streptanthella longirostris (Long beaked twist flower). The Emmels (1973) mention the latter, plus Descurainia, and add that this species will feed on European Sisymbrium species in the lab. I watched a female oviposit on Sisymbrium in the wild at Otay Mountain in 2010 (see below).
Anthocharis cethura cethura flies around the Littlerock/Bob's Gap area on the desert side of the San Gabriels as well. They are single brooded, and in my experience uncommon and often outnumbered by Sara orangetips. There are (currently) two subspecies to the north/northwest, two as you go east through the Mojave, and one on Catalina Island.
The type locality for nominate cethura is the vicinity of Los Angeles, where Lorquin collected on a trip in 1859, probably ca. March-April. He sent butterflies to Boisduval and possibly the Felders, but the latter may have received their Lorquin material from Parisian dealers who had Boisduval's extras.
First desert orangetip of the season? I saw just a few butterflies on this day, including this fresh male cethura, in Plum Canyon, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, March 11, 2024. Note the marbling on the underside of the hind wing.
Same individual as above. There isn't a hint of yellow ground color in the ones I've seen here, whereas in the Mojave Preserve all seem to be yellow. Intermediate populations often have a mix of the two wing colors.
Male desert orangetip, Anthocharis cethura cethura at Valyermo, Los Angeles Co. April 10, 2008.
Desert orangetip female, with interested male. March 17, 2009 at Valyermo.
I watched this female placing eggs on leaves, one per plant, usually on the back of the leaf. I think this is Sisymbrium irio, London rocket, a non-native mustard. March 20, 2010.
Here's the desert orangetip egg on the back of the leaf.
Descurainia pinnata - yellow tansy mustard - at the Mojave Preserve in March, 2022.
Felder and Felder's original description based on Lorquin's specimens, from 1865's Reise der österreichischen Fregatte Novara um die Erde in den Jahren 1857, 1858, 1859 unter den Befehlen des Commodore B. von Wüllerstorf-Urbair (Voyage of the Austrian frigate Novara around the world in 1857, 1858, 1859 under the command of Commodore B. von Wüllerstorf-Urbair). I put this together from two volumes: the text description and selections from a plate.
©Dennis Walker
