Argyreus hyperbius

Argyreus hyperbius inconstans (Butler, 1873)
Australian Fritillary
ARGYNNINAE, NYMPHALIDAE

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

(updated 17 August 2004)

This Caterpillar is probably named after the valiant warrior, son of Oenops, in the ancient Greek play "The Seven Against Thebes" by Aeschylus.

(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston)

The eggs of this species are laid singly on the underside of a leaf of a food plant.They are barrel-shaped, and have vertical ridges. Initially they are white, later changing to bluish-green.

First instars
(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston)

The Caterpillars are black with orange tubercles, and are covered in branched black spines.

Second instar
(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston)

The Caterpillars are inclined to hide by night, and but by day feed on the Australian native violets ( VIOLACEAE ) :

Arrowhead Violet ( Viola betonicifolia ), and

Trailing Violet ( Viola hederacea ).

Last instar
(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston)

The pupa is spiky and orange. Some of the spikes are cream coloured. It hangs by a cremaster from a stem of a nearby plant.

(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston)

The adult butterflies on top are orange with black spots.

Male, upper surface
(Photo: courtesy of Stephan Shuichi Haupt)

Male, under surface
(Photo: courtesy of David Johnston)

The female has larger black spots, creating black areas on the wingtips. Underneath, both sexes are pale with brown markings, and the female has an area of orange and white with black markings under each fore wing. The wingspan can reach 7 cms.

Female
(Specimen: courtesy of the Macleay Museum, University of Sydney)

The species occurs over north east Africa, and southern Asia, including :

as well as the subspecies inconstans occuring locally in southern Queensland and northern New South Wales in Australia, where it is considered to be an endangered species.

Female, under surface
(Photo: courtesy of Stephan Shuichi Haupt)