Falcate Orangetip Anthocharis midea
Falcate Orangetip, a harbinger of spring, is locally common in the Mountains and Ridge and Valley and Piedmont and uncommon in the Coastal Plain. In warm years, the males appear as early as late February in moist woodlands before the trees have leaves on them and search in peripatetic flight for females. A short time later, the females appear and search for a hostplant, including hairy bittercress (Cardamine hirsuta) (confirmed in Bartow County), forkleaf toothwort (Cardamine dissecta) (confirmed in Floyd County), or wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris). There is one brood from early March (occasionally as early as February) to mid-April. In the northern race, A.m. anickae of the Mountains and Piedmont, the orange wingtip patch does not touch the black dot in the white dorsal forewing, while in the southern race, A.m. midea of the Coastal Plain and Coast, the orange patch touches or includes the black dot. Conservation Status: Secure
