and lives in a shelter at the base of a clump of the foodplant. It grows to a length of about 2.5 cms.

The pupa has a length of about 2 cms. It is pale brown with dark spots, and a black patch on the thorax. The pupa is covered in a white waxy powder.

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

The adult male and female butterflies are very similar, except the wings of the female are more rounded. The wings of both sexes are dark brown with a series of translucent pale yellow spots and patches on each forewing. The hind wings each have a central broad orange band.

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

Underneath, the wings are paler brown with white patches. The white patches on the hindwings are lustrous and outlined in black. The wing span is about 3 cms.

The male adults of this species are well-known for congregating around hilltops. The species occurs in Queensland and northern New South Wales.

Further reading :

Michael F. Braby, Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 1, pp 95-96.

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(updated 18 November 2009)