although it also feeds on other plants in the same family, including :

male
(Photo: courtesy of Roberto Villa, Italian Butterflies)

The butterflies are brown with grey markings on the forewings, and white spots on the hindwings. The butterflies have wingspans of 1.2 to 1.4 cms.

The species originates from around the Mediterranean, occurring for example in :

It was imported into Australia in order to control Horehound, but failed to breed here successfully in quarantine, so was never released.

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Australian butterflies

Australian caterpillars

Australian moths

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(updated 26 February 2010)