Delias harpalyce, the imperial white, is a butterfly in the family Pieridae. It is endemic to Australia.
| Delias harpalyce | |
|---|---|
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| Live individual, ventral view | |
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| Museum specimen, dorsal view | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Pieridae |
| Genus: | Delias |
| Species: | D. harpalyce
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| Binomial name | |
| Delias harpalyce Donovan, 1805
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Description edit
The wingspan of Delias harpalyce reaches about 60–70 millimetres (2.4–2.8 in). The upper surfaces of the forewings and hindwings are a whitish with black margins and a row of whitish small spots on the apex of the forewings. In the females the black outer edges of the wings are wider than in males. The undersides of the wings are chequered whitish and black, with a yellow band on the apex of the forewings and a red band on the middle of the hindwings.[1][2]
The larvae are about 4 cm in length, with a black body covered by white hairs. These gregarious caterpillars spin a silken web on their host plants (Amyema, Muellerina and Dendrophthoe species).[1]
Distribution and habitat edit
This species can be found in Australia (New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia). It lives in the eucalypt forests.[1][2]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Butterfly House". Archived from the original on 2013-10-21. Retrieved 2013-12-17.
- ^ a b Oz Animals
External links edit
- Catalogue of Life Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
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