Phalanta phalantha

Phalanta phalantha araca (Waterhouse & Lyell, 1914)
(previously known as : Atella phalantha)
Leopard
ARGYNNINAE, NYMPHALIDAE

Don Herbison-Evans ( donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley

(updated 14 January 2004)

(Photo: courtesy of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute)

These Caterpillars have several long branched spines protruding from every segment of their body. Initially the Caterpillars are colourless. Later they become brown with black dorso-lateral stripes. The final instar is green, with a black, yellow and white head. Overseas, the Caterpillars feed on :

Quinine Bush ( Petalostigma quadriloculare, EUPHORBIACEAE ),

but in Australia, they feed on various species from the family FLACOURTIACEAE, namely the Australian native :

Madagascar Plum ( Flacourtia territorialis = indica ),

and the introduced ornamentals :

Lori-Lori ( Flacourtia inermis ), and

Govenor's Plum ( Flacourtia rukam ).

(Photo: courtesy of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute)

The pupa hangs obliquely from a cremaster. It is green with shiny brown projections, and has a length of about 2 cms.

(Photo: courtesy of the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute)

The adult butterflies on top are orange, with black scalloped subterminal lines, and a number of black spots of various sizes. Underneath they are similar but paler, and have a large black spot under the tornus of each forewing. They have a wingspan of about 5 cms.

The eggs are yellow and laid singly on young shoots and stems of a foodplant.

This species is found as a number of races from Africa to south-east Asia, including :

Taiwan,

Zambia, as well as

the tropical north of Australia.

Lesotho, 1986

The live pupae may be purchased from The Butterfly Farm.

It has been suggested that the patterns on the wings of this species have evolved to mimic those of the poisonous Taenaris and Hyantis butterfly species.