Delias argenthona | The Scarlet Jezebel
Fabricius 1793
Delias argenthona argenthona
Stanthorpe (SW of Brisbane), Queensland (Australia), April 28, 2009
Photo : Marcjan
Subspecies and range of Delias argenthona :
. argenthona Fabricius 1793 - N. Australia
form fragalactea Butler 1896
form protocharis Boisduval 1836
form seminigra Fruhstorfer 1910
. balli Hulstaert 1923 - Southern area of Papua and PNG, Aru island
synonym insularis Rothschild 1925
Notes on Delias argenthona :
A very well known species whose life history has been fully described. The larval food plant is a species of Mistletoe (loranthus), and the larvae are gregarious.
The subspecies D. a. fragalactea is now only considered to be a synonym for the nominate subspecies. There is quite a difference between the summer and winter broods, and fragalactea falls within these variations, and as such can not be considered as a separate subspecies.
The form seminigra is the winter brood form and is darker than the type D.a.argenthona
Delias argenthona caterpillars :
The Scarlet Jezebel caterpillars are gregarious and feed on Misletoes.
Delias argenthona argenthona larvae
Garradunga, North Queensland (Australia)
Photo : Jackblack
Delias argenthona pupae :
The pupa of Delias argenthona looks like other known Delias pupae.
Delias argenthona argenthona pupae
Picture by David Hall
Group hyparete species :