Don Herbison-Evans (
donherbisonevans@yahoo.com )
&
Stella Crossley
(updated 5 May 2002)
Male
(Specimen: courtesy of the
Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)
This Caterpillar is velvety green with a pale yellow dorsal line edged with brown markings. It is known to feed on various species of Dodder ( LAURACEAE ), including :
The pupa is grey or brown with dark markings, and has flanges on the abdomen. Its length is about 1 cm.
The male and female adults are similar: dark brown on top with a purple sheen. Underneath, they are fawn with brown markings, including two large spots under the tornus of each forewing. The butterflies have a wing span of about 2 cms.
The eggs are white, rough, round, and flattened. They are laid singly on young shoots of a foodplant.
The species occurs in Timor, New Guinea and the whole northern half of Australia.
Further reading :
Michael F. Braby, Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 2, pp. 767-768.
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