Delias aganippe

Delias aganippe, the wood white or red-spotted Jezebel,[1] is a butterfly in the family Pieridae.

Delias aganippe
Delias aganippe. Sideview
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Pieridae
Genus: Delias
Species:
D. aganippe
Binomial name
Delias aganippe
(Donovan, 1805)
Synonyms
  • Papilio aganippe Donovan, E. 1805

Distribution

This species is endemic to Australia. These butterflies can be found mainly in southern Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and in the southern Western Australia. [2][3]

Description

Delias aganippe can reach a wingspan of about 60–70 mm (2.4–2.8 in). The upper surface of the wings shows a silver-grey color, with black margins and a row of white spots. Moreover the females have a round black spot in the middle of the forewinhìgs. In both sexes the under surface of the hindwings shows large yellow patches and subterminal bands of red spots. [2]

Biology

The caterpillars can reach a body length of about 4 cm (1.6 in). They are at first pale brown with a black head, then they become completely black, with small white spots. They feed gregariously on Santalaceae (Exocarpos, Santalum species) and Loranthaceae species (Amyema species).[2]

References

  1. "Australian Faunal Directory". Archived from the original on 2012-10-16. Retrieved 2011-09-23.
  2. Don Herbison-Evans & Stella Crossley Lepidoptera Larvae of Australia
  3. Funet


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