as well as the exotics :

The Caterpillar usually rests lying along the midrib of a leaf, making it very difficult to see. The pupa is also hard to see, as it closely resembles a leaf. It is green with a pointed head, and often attached upright to a stem of the foodplant by cremaster and girdle.

(Specimen: courtesy of the Butterfly House, Coffs Harbour)

The adults have a wingspan up to 6 cms. The wings of the male are white with black wingtips, and a yellow blush toward the hinges.

Male
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The wings of the female are pale yellow with black edges and spots.

Female
(Specimen: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

Underneath, the wings are dirty white with dark orange markings.

Male underside

Female underside

(Specimens: courtesy of the The Australian Museum)

The eggs are pale yellow and barrel-shaped with ribs. They are laid singly on leaflets of a foodplant.

The species occurs from Madagascar through south-east Asia, including :

and in Australia in:

(Photo: courtesy of Ian McMillan, Imbil, Queensland)

Butterflies of this species may be purchased for release at weddings etc.

Further reading :

Michael F. Braby,
Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 1, pp. 291-293.

R. L. Kitching, Dr. E. Scheermeyer, R. E. Jones and N. E. Pierce (Eds),
The Biology of the Australian Butterflies, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 1999, Chapter 8.

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