Different sub-species

[Dave McCormick]

I was looking at the differences between Irish and non Irish sub-species and just wanted to know something.

I have a few pics of an orange-tip male and it has lighter orange tips than other types found elsewhere in U.K. is this the Irish sub-species (Anthocharis hibernica) or what? It is a bit smaller looking than pics of other orange tips I have seen.

Can you get other sub-species and normal species in Ireland or just that one?

I am writing about the sub-species of Orange-Tip for my website. Any thing you can tell me about any sub-species of it anywhere in world? E.g. mating behaviour differences, colour differences etc...?

Also, what species in Ireland differ from ones in other parts of the U.K.? Just wanted to know.

[Pete Eeles]

The page at:

http://www.ukbutterflies.co.uk/taxonomy.php

contains a summary of the known subspecies found in the UK. Look for "hibernica" for Ireland (and "Scotica" for Scotland).

Cheers,

- Pete