Leptosia nina (Fabricius, 1793)
Psyche
 PIERINAE ,   PIERIDAE

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

Leptosia nina
(Photo: courtesy of Biology Department of National Changhua University of Education)

This Caterpillar feeds on various plants from the family CAPPARACEAE including :

  • Capparis heyneana, and
  • Temple Plant ( Crateva religiosa ).

    The adult butterflies are white on top, with a black wingtip, and a black spot by the wingtip, of each forewing. Underneath they are the same, except each hindwing is pale yellow. The wingspan is about 3 cms.

    Leptosia nina
    (Photo: courtesy of Chin Fah Shin)

    Various subspecies of this Caterpillar occur throughout south-east Asia, for example in:

  • India,
  • Taiwan, and
  • Thailand.
    In Australia, they have only been found in a small area of the north of
  • Western Australia.

    Further reading :

    Michael F. Braby,
    Butterflies of Australia, CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne 2000, vol. 1, p. 320.

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    (updated 6 January 2010)