IUCN RED LIST
Established in 1964, The IUCN Red List is a critical indicator of the health of the world’s biodiversity. Species are classified by the IUCN Red List into nine groups, through criteria such as rate of decline, population size and area of geographic distribution as:
- Extinct (EX) – This species is no longer extant
- Extinct in the wild (EW) – Survives only in captivity, or through cultivation often outside native range
- Critically endangered (CR) – In an extremely critical state
- Endangered (EN) – Very high risk of extinction in the wild
- Vulnerable (VU) – At high risk of unnatural (human-caused) extinction
- Near Threatened (NT) – Close to being endangered in the near future
- Least Concern (LC) – Widespread and abundant in the wild
- Data Deficient (DD) – Inadequate information to assess extinction risk
- Not Evaluated (NE) – Has not yet been assessed
The butterfly has large white wings with striking bright orange tips bordered by black markings on the forewings. The underside is beautifully patterned with greenish marbling that resembles dry leaves, providing excellent camouflage while resting.
The Great Orange Tip is a strong and graceful butterfly known for its slow gliding flight. It is usually seen flying high among trees but often descends to flowers for feeding. It is active during sunny daytime hours and can travel long distances while searching for nectar and breeding sites.
The Great Orange Tip is generally non-migratory, though local seasonal dispersal may occur in response to rainfall and flowering patterns.
Breeding occurs mainly during monsoon and post-monsoon seasons. Females lay spindle-shaped eggs singly on host plants belonging mainly to the Capparaceae family. Caterpillars feed on leaves before pupating on stems or twigs. Males actively patrol territories and search for females during courtship.
Bright orange wing tips may act as warning or distraction signals to predators. Leaf-like wing undersides provide excellent camouflage during rest. Strong muscular wings enable rapid, powerful flight. Large body size helps survive in open and windy habitats.
Adult Great Orange Tips feed mainly on nectar from flowering plants such as lantana, jasmine, ixora, and hibiscus. Caterpillars feed primarily on leaves of caper and related host plants.
The Great Orange Tip is commonly found in tropical forests, forest edges, gardens, orchards, scrublands, plantations, and urban green spaces. It prefers warm and humid habitats with abundant flowering plants and host trees.
